Pakistan's Trade with Gulf Countries Drops 10% After Closing Routes to Afghanistan

Pakistan has experienced a significant decline in trade following the closure of its trade routes to Afghanistan on October 12 last year. Pakistani media reported that trade with Middle Eastern countries decreased notably in the last month. Dawn newspaper stated that exports and imports with Gulf region countries fell by 10 percent during the same period.

The closure not only resulted in Pakistan losing its market in Afghanistan but also halted its trade to Central Asia via Afghanistan. Economic analysts attributed the broader economic pressures to several factors, including the Pakistani military's use of economic relations as a pressure tool, production of low-quality and non-standard goods, political instability, ongoing war and internal conflicts, and a decrease in foreign investment interest. These issues have contributed to rising unemployment and poverty in the country.

Pakistani traders have criticized the regime's economic policies, noting heavy losses for themselves and farmers in the export of vegetables and fruits during the current calendar year. Analysts highlighted that farmers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces are particularly bearing the cost of the military regime's irresponsible foreign policies.