KARACHI: Pakistan recorded a current account deficit of $324 million in April 2026 after posting a strong surplus of $1.13 billion in March, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan on Monday.
The latest figures showed that the widening trade gap was mainly driven by a sharp rise in imports, while exports registered only modest growth during the month.
Pakistan’s total exports of goods and services stood at $3.47 billion in April, showing an annual increase of more than 3%. In contrast, imports surged over 11% year-on-year to reach $6.86 billion, significantly increasing pressure on the external account.
Workers’ remittances continued to provide support to the economy, rising 11% from a year earlier to $3.54 billion in April 2026.
During the first ten months of the current fiscal year, the country posted a cumulative current account deficit of $252 million, compared to a surplus of $1.66 billion in the same period last year.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves climbed to $15.98 billion, reflecting a 54% increase on an annual basis.
The country’s Real Effective Exchange Rate also rose to 105.80 in April, its highest level in seven years, indicating reduced export competitiveness and relatively cheaper imports.
