ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s exports to five Central Asian Republics (CARs) shrank 4.10 per cent year-on-year in FY26.

The country’s exports to the region have yet to reach their full potential, apparently due to the closure of border trade stations with Afghanistan and land trade routes.

Pakistan’s bilateral trade with these five Central Asian states — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan — fell by 50.62pc, from $443.712 million in FY25 to $219.125m in FY26.

The striking change came from imports. Pakistan’s combined imports from the five countries plunged 88.35pc to just $28.547m in FY26 from $244.990m in FY25. Exports were much more resilient, declining only 4.1pc to $190.578m from $198.722m.

At the country level, Kazakhstan remained Pakistan’s largest trading partner among the five CARs in FY26, with bilateral trade of $104.313m, although this was 54.22pc lower than in FY25. Uzbekistan followed at $87.732m.

Tajikistan recorded the steepest overall contraction at 69.56pc, followed by Turkmenistan at 61.36pc. Kyrgyzstan was the only country in which total bilateral trade increased, rising by 6.66pc.

Pakistan’s annual trade with CARs is between $400 and $500m via Afghanistan. Uzbekistan has already implemented its transit trade agreement with Pakistan. Under the agreement, Uzbekistan has also begun importing goods under the transit agreement.

Exports to almost all countries posted negative growth during FY26. Similarly, imports from all countries dropped from a year ago.

Pakistan’s exports to Turkmenistan declined 29.3pc to $1.183m in FY26 from $1.677m a year ago. Imports plunged 64.59pc to $5.868m against $16.572m last year.

Exports to Uzbekistan fell 17.95pc to $75.613m against $64.107m in FY25. Imports tumbled by 84.68pc to $12.11m from $79.125m a year ago.

Kazakhstan has the highest export value, at $97.888m in FY26, down from $98.244m in Fy25. The value of imports stood at $6.425m, compared with $129.628m.

Pakistan’s exports to Kyrgyzstan stood at $4.027m in FY26, down from $3.995m in FY25. Imports stood at $0.843m against $0.571m.

Exports to Tajikistan dipped 61.34pc to $11.867m in FY26 from $30.699m a year ago. Imports plunged 82.76pc to $3.292m against $19.094m.

Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2026