Pakistan’s food imports have surged close to $8 billion during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year 2025-26 (July 2025 to April 2026). According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), this represents a significant increase compared to the same period last year.
The sharp rise in food imports is mainly driven by higher demand for edible oil, pulses, tea, sugar, and other essential food items. Edible oil remains the largest contributor to the food import bill due to the limited local production of oilseeds. Rising population, changing dietary habits, and gaps in domestic agricultural output are key reasons behind the growing dependence on imported food.
This increasing trend is putting pressure on Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves and widening the trade deficit. Economists say the country needs to focus more on increasing local production through better agricultural policies, modern farming techniques, and higher yields of oilseeds and pulses.
The government is working on long-term plans to reduce food imports by promoting local farming and investing in food processing industries. However, in the short term, food imports are expected to remain high to meet the needs of the growing population.
This situation highlights the urgent need for food self-sufficiency to strengthen Pakistan’s economy and reduce reliance on foreign supplies.