Parliamentary Secretary for Commerce Zulfiqar Ali Bhatti has confirmed that US tariffs on Pakistani exports are among the lowest in the region. This clarification comes amid earlier concerns about high trade tariffs affecting Pakistan’s exports to the United States.
Bhatti responded to a question about the potential loss of $1 billion due to new US tariffs. He explained that those concerns were based on a time when the US tariffs had not yet been finalized. Now, Pakistan enjoys a significantly lower tariff rate compared to regional competitors like India.
“Previously, Indian goods faced a 25% tariff, but Pakistan’s direct tariff rate has now been reduced to one of the lowest in the region,” Bhatti said. He credited this positive development to strong diplomatic efforts by Pakistan’s leadership, including the Prime Minister, Finance Minister, Commerce Minister, and the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).
Bhatti also highlighted the Ministry of Commerce’s ongoing work with chambers of commerce and trade unions. The ministry is developing support programs to help local exporters, including training and facilitation services.
Currently, Pakistan holds a trade surplus of $3.3 billion with the United States. With the favorable tariff environment, the country’s exports to the US are expected to grow further.
In addition, concerns were raised about export challenges in remote areas like Gilgit-Baltistan. The lack of cold storage and refrigeration limits the export of perishable goods such as fresh and dry fruits. The government is working to improve logistics and storage infrastructure in these regions.
Overall, the updated US tariffs policy provides an encouraging outlook for Pakistan’s export sector.
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