Pakistan sets $35.28 billion export goal in FY 2025-26 development plan

The National Economic Council (NEC) recently approved the Annual Development Plan for fiscal year 2025-2026, outlining key economic targets aimed at stabilizing the country’s external accounts while managing trade imbalances.

According to the approved plan, the current account deficit for FY 2025-26 is projected at $2.1 billion, or -0.5% of GDP, a shift from the current fiscal year’s estimated surplus of $1.5 billion.

The government has set an export target of $35.28 billion for goods in the coming fiscal year, slightly higher than this year’s revised estimate of $32.85 billion.

Meanwhile, imports are expected to rise significantly, with a target of $65.21 billion compared to FY25’s estimated $58.3 billion.

The services sector is also expected to see growth, with export targets set at $9.55 billion, a 15.6% increase from the current year’s $8.28 billion.

However, service sector imports are projected to dip slightly to $14 billion, down from $11.48 billion in FY25.

Remittances, a critical source of foreign exchange, are anticipated to rise to $39.43 billion in FY 2025-26, up from $37.45 billion this fiscal year.

Combining goods and services, the total export target stands at $44.9 billion, while total imports are projected at $79.2 billion. This would result in an estimated trade deficit of $29.92 billion for the upcoming fiscal year.