Afghanistan-Pakistan Trade Hits $143 Million in August, Up 4% from July

Kabul:  Trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan reached 143 million USD in August of this year.

According to Pakistani media reports, trade between the two countries increased by four percent compared to July.

Pakistani outlets also reported that Afghanistan’s exports to Pakistan grew by 50 percent year-on-year and 16 percent month-on-month.

Part of the report stated: “Pakistan witnessed a 50 percent increase in imports from Afghanistan in August 2025 compared to last year, and a 16 percent rise compared to July. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s exports to Afghanistan in the same month fell by 13 percent on a yearly basis and by 1 percent monthly. An official source told Millat newspaper that bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan in August stood at 143 million USD, reflecting a 4 percent increase compared to July. This rise was mainly due to the 50 percent increase in Pakistan’s imports from Afghanistan, which grew from 37 million USD in July 2025 to 55 million USD in August.”

Omid Haidari, a businessman, said: “We request Pakistan’s leadership to reduce tariffs to a minimum. First of all, mutual trust should be built, and trade, customs, and transit agreements between Kabul and Islamabad should be signed to assist traders on both sides.”

The Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce attributed the rise in Afghanistan’s exports to Pakistan to reduced customs tariffs on some Afghan goods and the reopening of certain crossings.

Khanjan Alokozay, President of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce, said: “Exports have increased compared to last year and also compared to last month, because a month ago tariffs were high, and the fruit season had not yet started.”

Some traders, pointing to current challenges, have called for greater facilities to ease their exports and trade.

Mirwais Haji Zada, First Deputy of the Chamber of Agriculture and Livestock, said: “The fruit season has ended this year, and facilities must be provided for traders facing difficulties. A railway line should be built so that traders can export to other countries as well.”

Earlier, the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock had stated that trade challenges between Afghanistan and Pakistan had eased, and that exports to Pakistan were now proceeding normally.

The ministry’s deputy added that currently fresh and dried fruits from Afghanistan are being exported to Pakistan through the Torkham, Ghulam Khan, and Dand Patan crossings.