Islamabad: Pakistan’s reliance on Iranian imports has deepened further with the start of the new fiscal year 2025–26, as official data shows a sharp increase in both monthly and yearly imports from the neighboring country. According to government sources, Pakistan’s imports from Iran surged by 70 percent month-on-month in July 2025, reaching $112 million compared to $66 million in June. On a year-on-year basis, imports also grew by 12 percent, up from $100 million in July 2024.
This upward trend continues the momentum seen in the previous fiscal year 2024–25, when imports from Iran totaled $1.22 billion, reflecting an 18 percent increase from $1.037 billion recorded in 2023–24. Trade figures over the past six years reveal a steady rise in imports from Iran, which stood at $440 million in 2019–20, $518.6 million in 2020–21, $773.8 million in 2021–22, $880 million in 2022–23, $1.037 billion in 2023–24, and finally $1.222 billion in 2024–25. Cumulatively, Pakistan has imported goods worth $4.87 billion from Iran during this six-year period.
In stark contrast, Pakistan’s exports to Tehran remain negligible. Over the past five years, total exports to Iran stood at only $130,000. The figures show $10,000 in 2019–20, zero exports in both 2020–21 and 2021–22, $100,000 in 2022–23, and just $20,000 in 2023–24. This imbalance underscores Pakistan’s heavy dependence on Iranian goods while failing to secure reciprocal access to the Iranian market.
Analysts attribute the surge in Iranian imports mainly to low-cost energy, agricultural products, and informal border trade, which have made Iran a significant trade partner despite international sanctions on Tehran. However, experts warn that the widening trade gap could pose risks for Pakistan’s economy. Without a clear export strategy, Pakistan may become increasingly reliant on Iranian supplies, making it vulnerable to geopolitical tensions and sanctions-related disruptions.
As Pakistan moves through the fiscal year 2025–26, the challenge will be to safeguard critical imports needed to meet domestic demand while simultaneously exploring opportunities to expand exports to Iran’s large consumer market. Trade specialists believe that sectors such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, and food processing could perform well in Iran if regulatory and banking barriers are eased. Until then, Pakistan’s trade balance with Iran remains lopsided, with imports climbing consistently while exports struggle to take off.
