How to Read Pakistan's Trade Data
A plain-English guide to Pakistan's official trade statistics: fiscal years, PBS vs State Bank figures, and common pitfalls.
Fiscal years run July to June
Pakistan's fiscal year runs from July to June, so "FY2024–25" means July 2024 through June 2025. Annual figures rarely match calendar-year numbers reported by other countries.
Two official sources, two numbers
The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) records trade from customs data when goods cross the border. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) records it from payments, for the balance of payments. The two figures differ slightly because of timing and coverage — neither is wrong.
Provisional figures get revised
Monthly releases are provisional and are often revised later. Compare like with like: final with final, provisional with provisional.
Partner figures depend on the method
Country rankings can shift depending on whether goods are counted by country of origin, consignment or destination. Treat partner rankings as indicative rather than exact.