ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s food import bill surged 11.66 per cent to $9.150 billion in the financial year 2025-26 from $8.195bn during the same period last year, largely led by higher purchases of sugar and edible oil.
The gap between food imports and exports widened during the year as exports of fruits and vegetables declined sharply, particularly to Afghanistan, following the suspension of bilateral trade in October 2025.
The trend has increased the country’s reliance on imported food items.
Meanwhile, exports of raw food products fell 29.49pc to $5.017bn in FY26 from $7.116bn in the preceding fiscal year, according to official data.
Raw food exports fall 29pc to $5bn, widening trade gap
