- The trade in bilateral products increases by 27% to $ 1.575 billion in July-Mars.
- The front cargo plunged by 64%, going to $ 809 million.
- The reverse cargo also decreases by 46% to record $ 50 million.
Islamabad: although the commercial links between Pakistan and Afghanistan show signs of Renaissance, the public transport trade of Afghanistan via Pakistan collapsed by 84% following the anti-relaxation scanning of Pakistan, The news reported on Monday
The latest customs department data reveal that the trade in bilateral products has increased from 27% to $ 1.575 billion in July-Mars for the current financial year (2024-25), according to the latest custom data.
This resurgence is largely fed by an increase of 33% of exports from Pakistan, which reached $ 1.05 billion, signaling a renewed demand for Pakistani products through the border.
Afghanistan, in turn, increased its exports to Pakistan by 16%, totaling $ 524 million, reflecting a modest but constant flow of Afghan products such as cotton, spices and cereals on the Pakistani markets.
However, behind the celebration figures is a contrasting story. Afghanistan public transport trade via Pakistan – a critical rescue buoy for the landlocked country – has collapsed.
Out of 7.48 billion dollars a year earlier, total public transport trade increased to only $ 1.2 billion from the post -CRACKDOWN period (November 2023 – November 2024).
The public transport trade in the first nine months (July-Mailles) for the year 2024-25, experienced a sharp drop of 64%, falling to $ 836 million, compared to $ 2.33 billion in the same period of the previous year. The front cargo (imports in Afghanistan) also plunged 64%, going to $ 809 million, compared to $ 2.28 billion.
Meanwhile, the reverse cargo (Afghanistan exports) decreased by 46%, reaching $ 27 million, compared to $ 50 million.
The export basket from Pakistan to Afghanistan has undergone a significant change. Sugar is led by sugar, which jumped 4,333%, reaching $ 262.8 million, compared to only $ 5.9 million last year. Pharmaceutical products, cement, edible oils and aluminum products have also displayed strong two -digit growth.
Agriculture and food exports to Afghanistan jumped 43% to $ 690 million, while manufacturing and engineering products increased by $ 353 million. But textile and clothing expeditions fell from 19% to $ 7.46 million, and rice exports dropped from 25% to 180.8 million dollars.
On the import side, cotton imports to Afghanistan have more than doubled at $ 167 million, while spice shipments jumped five to 21.2 million dollars. But charcoal imports dropped from $ 20% to $ 71.5 million, fruit and nuts dropped by $ 13% to $ 86.8 million, and LPG imports plunged to zero.
Once a vital cross -border pathway, Afghanistan’s public transport trade by Pakistan is slowly shrinking, advanced cargoes (imports in Afghanistan) plunging 86% and inverted cargo (Afghan exports via Pakistan) have reduced in half.
The public transport trade experienced a modest increased by 6% in March 2025 from February, but it is down almost two thirds. Officials attribute the sharp drop in Pakistan’s repression on smuggling and improper use of public transport roads.
While the number of bilateral businesses shows momentum, the lamentable state of transit trade signals deeper geopolitical and logistical tensions.
If current policies persist, Afghanistan can continue to diversify its commercial routes – perhaps to Iran and Central Asia – posing long -term challenges for the strategic commercial relevance of Pakistan, according to commercial experts. However, growing official trade signals resilience and mutual dependence on formal trade.