President of the Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF), All Karachi Industrial Alliance (AKIA), Chairman of the National Business Group Pakistan, Chairman of the FPCCI Policy Advisory Board and former Provincial Minister for Information Technology, Mian Zahid Hussain, has expressed concern over the widening imbalance in Pakistan’s trade growth with the United States, noting that imports from the US are expanding rapidly while Pakistani exports are growing at a much slower pace.
He urged the government to formulate an effective strategy for enhancing exports to the United States, protecting Pakistan’s bilateral trade surplus and strengthening net foreign exchange earnings. He stressed that alongside efforts to expand bilateral trade, policymakers should focus on increasing the market share of Pakistani products, boosting industrial output and creating export-led employment opportunities.
Referring to the State Bank of Pakistan’s October 2026 report, Mian Zahid Hussain said Pakistan’s export receipts from the United States increased by 4.44 per cent year-on-year to $1.716 billion during July-September 2026, compared with approximately $1.64 billion in the corresponding period last year. However, imports from the US surged by 45.44 per cent to $659.2 million from $453.3 million a year earlier.
He noted that imports increased by approximately $206 million, whereas export receipts grew by only about $73 million during the period. As a result, Pakistan’s bilateral trade surplus with the United States narrowed from roughly $1.19 billion to $1.06 billion, reflecting a decline of around 11.2 per cent.
Mian Zahid Hussain said substantial opportunities remain available for Pakistan to expand its presence in the American market. Quoting data from the World Bank’s World Integrated Trade Solution (WITS), he said US imports of cotton jerseys, pullovers and similar garments reached $7.35 billion in 2025, of which Pakistan’s share was about $502.3 million.
Similarly, US imports of cotton bed linen, excluding printed, knitted and crocheted products, totalled $1.18 billion, while imports from Pakistan stood at $246.8 million. In cotton towels and bathroom and kitchen linen, the US imported products worth $2.01 billion, with Pakistan accounting for approximately $512.4 million.
He further pointed out that US imports of medical, surgical and veterinary instruments amounted to $22.27 billion, whereas Pakistan’s exports in this category were only about $121.8 million. Likewise, US imports of semi-milled and wholly milled rice stood at $1.56 billion, while Pakistan supplied products worth merely $33.1 million.
Mian Zahid Hussain urged relevant institutions to help domestic industries secure a larger market share in the United States through improved product quality, international certifications, attractive packaging and stronger marketing efforts. He also called for realistic export promotion targets for medical instruments aligned with Pakistan’s manufacturing capabilities and US regulatory requirements.
He appreciated Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts aimed at easing tensions between the United States and Iran amid concerns over global energy supplies and maritime trade disruptions. According to him, expanded high-level engagement with Washington also presents valuable opportunities for economic diplomacy.
He said the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should utilise diplomatic channels to seek improved access for Pakistani products, lower tariff barriers and create greater opportunities for exporters. Efforts to strengthen bilateral relations, he added, should simultaneously generate new export orders, investment flows and employment opportunities within Pakistan.
Mian Zahid Hussain stressed that the Ministry of Commerce, the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), Pakistan’s trade missions abroad and the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) should jointly develop a comprehensive strategy for boosting exports to the US market.
He advocated wider participation of small and medium-sized enterprises in buyer-seller meetings, international trade exhibitions and direct business engagements. He further emphasised that export growth must be supported through timely tax refunds, adequate financing facilities and dependable maritime services, enabling exporters to fulfil overseas orders efficiently and on schedule.
He concluded that long-term and sustainable trade relations with the United States would be strengthened when they also contribute to increased investment, technology transfer, industrial growth and employment generation in Pakistan.
