Afghan route closure weighs on Pakistan-Central Asia trade, exports fall 9%, imports plunge 88%

Pakistan's trade with five Central Asian countries came under pressure in the first 10 months of FY2025-26 following the closure of the Afghan transit route, with exports declining nearly 9% and imports plunging 88%, according to official data.

Official data showed exports to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan fell to $147.99 million during July-April FY2025-26, compared with $161.94 million in the same period last year.

Imports from the region dropped by 87.96% to $20.88 million from $173.38 million a year earlier.

Due to the closure of the trade corridor through Afghanistan since last year, Pakistan has begun exporting goods to Central Asia via Iran, but trade volumes remain limited because of the longer and more costly route.

Uzbekistan was the only country among the five to record growth in imports from Pakistan during the period under review. Exports to Uzbekistan increased by 38.27% to $64.14 million, up from $46.39 million a year earlier. Imports from Uzbekistan, however, fell by 84.83% to $10.76 million.

Exports to Kazakhstan, Pakistan's second-largest market in the region, declined by 17.57% to $70.37 million from $85.37 million. Imports from Kazakhstan fell to $0.92 million from $73.10 million in the corresponding period last year.

Exports to Tajikistan dropped by 63.22% to $9.33 million, while imports from the country decreased by 79.89% to $3.25 million.

Exports to Kyrgyzstan fell 7.44% to $3.12 million, although imports from the country rose to $0.63 million from $0.49 million.

Exports to Turkmenistan declined by 28.64% to $1.02 million, while imports fell 58.10% to $5.33 million.

Pakistan's annual trade with Central Asian countries typically ranges between $400 million and $500 million, much of it conducted through Afghanistan.

Officials noted that Uzbekistan has already implemented its transit trade agreement with Pakistan and has started importing goods under the arrangement, helping support bilateral trade despite broader regional disruptions.