South Asia market profile

Pakistan

A strategic gateway connecting South Asia, Central Asia and the Arabian Sea

Pakistan combines a large consumer market, a globally competitive textile base, a fast-growing digital-services sector and strategic access to the Arabian Sea. Its agriculture, manufacturing, technology, minerals, logistics and energy ecosystems create strong opportunities for African businesses, investors and institutions seeking long-term partnerships with South Asia.

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01 / Market snapshot

Country at a glance

Profile figures are period-labelled for context.

Population: 252.1M
GDP (nominal): US$452.1B
GDP per capita: US$1,901
GDP growth: 3.7%
Services share: 58.4%
Inflation: 6.2%
FDI (net): US$1.4B
Merchandise trade: US$73.4B

02 / Government

Economic and political leadership

Verified against official sources on 31 August 2026.

Asif Ali ZardariPresidentOfficial website

Mian Muhammad Shehbaz SharifPrime MinisterOfficial website

Muhammad AurangzebFederal Minister for Finance & RevenueOfficial website

Jam Kamal KhanFederal Minister for CommerceOfficial website

03 / People

Population and demographics

A consistent, accessible data layout for every country profile.

Age distribution

Population by age

Age
profile

0-14 years: 40.6%
15-24 years: 18.5%
25-54 years: 31.8%
55+ years: 9.1%

Gender breakdown

Population share

Male 51.5%
Female 48.5%

Religion

Community profile

Islam: 96.4%
Hinduism: 1.6%
Christianity / other: 2.0%

Language

Business communication

Urdu is the national language and English is widely used in government, law and business. Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, Balochi and other regional languages are important in local markets.

Islamabad is Pakistan's federal capital, while Karachi is its largest city and principal commercial hub.

04 / Business culture

Working in Pakistan

05 / Economic landscape

Priority industries

Relationships

Trust, personal introductions and continuity matter. Allow time to build relationships before expecting major commitments.

Communication

Business communication is commonly conducted in English, while respectful titles and a courteous, considered approach are valued.

Decision-making

Organisations can be hierarchical. Identify decision-makers early, confirm agreements in writing and plan around public and religious holidays.

Textiles & apparel

Integrated cotton, yarn, fabric, garments and home-textile value chains.

Agriculture & food

Rice, livestock, horticulture, food processing and cold-chain opportunities.

IT & digital services

Software, BPO, fintech, e-commerce and a large technology talent pool.

Pharmaceuticals & health

Generics, medical supplies, diagnostics and healthcare delivery.

Engineering goods

Surgical instruments, sports goods, auto parts and light engineering.

Minerals & materials

Copper, gold, coal, construction materials and mineral processing.

Energy

Renewables, grid modernisation, storage and industrial efficiency.

Logistics & connectivity

Karachi, Port Qasim and Gwadar support regional and global trade corridors.

06 / International trade

Trade footprint and major partners

Merchandise trade, July-March FY2026.

Total trade: US$73.4B
Exports: US$22.7B
Imports: US$50.7B

Major exports

Textiles & apparel
Rice and food products
Leather & sports goods
Surgical instruments
Chemicals & pharmaceuticals

Major imports

Petroleum & gas
Machinery & electrical equipment
Transport equipment
Iron & steel
Edible oils

Top export partners

United States
China
United Kingdom
United Arab Emirates
Germany

Top import partners

China
United Arab Emirates
Indonesia
Saudi Arabia
Qatar

Strategic ports connect Pakistan with regional and global markets.

07 / Pakistan - Africa

Pakistan-Africa trade relationship

Pakistan-Africa trade, FY2024-25

Total trade: US$4.85B
Pakistan exports: US$2.24B
Pakistan imports: US$2.61B

Pakistan-Africa trade reached US$4.85 billion in FY2024-25. The Look Africa initiative, direct business links and better logistics can broaden commerce beyond traditional commodities into health, technology, processed food, engineering and industrial partnerships.

Exports to Africa

Rice & cereals
Textiles & apparel
Pharmaceuticals
Surgical & medical goods
Engineering & sports goods

Imports from Africa

Tea & coffee
Petroleum, gas & coal
Cotton
Iron & steel
Minerals & chemicals

08 / Commercial potential

Opportunities for African partners

Focus areas for trade, partnerships and investment.

Textiles & apparel partnerships

Source yarn, fabric and finished goods or build joint manufacturing and African distribution partnerships.

Healthcare & pharmaceuticals

Develop compliant generic medicine, surgical instrument, diagnostics and hospital-supply partnerships.

Agriculture & food security

Collaborate in rice, livestock, oilseeds, farm inputs, processing, packaging and cold-chain systems.

Technology & digital services

Use Pakistan's software, fintech, BPO and e-commerce capabilities to serve African markets.

Engineering & industrial goods

Build supply chains in surgical goods, sports products, pumps, machinery, auto parts and maintenance.

Logistics & market access

Create shipping, warehousing, trading-house and corridor partnerships linking African markets with Pakistan.

09 / Practical guidance

Setting up and managing risk

Confirm all requirements with the responsible authority before committing capital.

01
Choose and register the entity
Use SECP for incorporation and confirm foreign ownership, beneficial ownership, capital and sector requirements.
02
Map licences and standards
Confirm product registration, Pakistan Standards requirements, environmental approvals and sector-specific permissions.
03
Set up tax and trade access
Register with FBR and use Pakistan Single Window for customs, import, export and related regulatory processes.
04
Use investment facilitation
Engage the Board of Investment and relevant provincial agencies for incentives, sites, special economic zones and approvals.
05
Validate partners and risks
Verify ownership, licences, references, payment capacity and logistics while pricing currency, energy and regulatory risks.

10 / Official resources

Business, investment and trade authorities

Use primary government portals for current rules and procedures.

Investment facilitation

Board of Investment

National investment guidance, facilitation, incentives and special economic zone information.

Visit official site Trade and commercial policy

Ministry of Commerce

Trade policy, market access, tariff policy and Pakistan's Look Africa initiative.

Visit official site Company registration

Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan

Company incorporation, corporate regulation and online business registration services.

Visit official site Tax and customs

Federal Board of Revenue

Federal tax registration, tariffs, customs rules and trader services.

Visit official site Cross-border trade

Pakistan Single Window

Single digital access point for import, export and transit regulatory requirements.

Visit official site Export development

Trade Development Authority of Pakistan

Market intelligence, exhibitions, delegations and exporter facilitation.

Visit official site

PAC market entry support

Move from market interest to a credible entry plan.

PAC supports research, partner discovery, due diligence, regulatory navigation, logistics coordination and local representation.

Connect with PAC

Data notes and sources

Economic and demographic figures reproduce the supplied PAC profile and retain their stated periods. Officeholders, diplomatic presence and official links were reviewed on 31 August 2026. Statistics and regulations change; verify current information before making commercial decisions.