Pakistan’s trade with Central Asia faces snags

Pakistan’s exports to five Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan) fell by 8.62% year-on-year in the first 10 months of 2025-26, driven by the closure of the Afghanistan land route. Exports via Iran remain limited due to distance, while Uzbekistan’s transit trade agreement with Pakistan saw a 38.27% increase in exports, offsetting declines in other countries.