Food Imports
Pakistan’s food import bill experienced a notable surge during the fiscal year 2024–25, reaching a record high of $8.14 billion. This marks an increase of $245 million compared to the previous fiscal year, when the food import bill stood at $7.90 billion.
In terms of local currency, the total value of food imports rose to Rs2,276 billion, up from Rs2,031 billion in 2023–24, reflecting an annual growth of 3.1%. These figures, released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), underline the growing reliance on imported food items to meet domestic needs.
Among the most significant contributors to this rise were dairy products, dry fruits, and spices. Dairy imports—which include items such as milk, butter, and cream—totaled Rs34.84 billion, showing a 9% increase from the previous year.
The import of dry fruits recorded a particularly dramatic rise, soaring by 100% to reach Rs40 billion, indicating either a major spike in local consumption or shortfalls in domestic supply. Similarly, spice imports increased by 16%, with the country importing Rs63.58 billion worth of various spices during the year.
In addition to these categories, there was also a notable uptick in the import of soybeans, palm oil, sugar, and pulses.
These increases suggest growing domestic demand for essential commodities or insufficient local agricultural production to meet consumption levels. The sustained import of such items raises concerns over Pakistan’s food security and the resilience of its agricultural sector.
Conversely, the report pointed out declines in the import of certain staples. Notably, wheat imports fell by 100%, indicating that no wheat was brought in from abroad during the year.
This could reflect an improvement in domestic wheat production or a deliberate policy decision to curb imports. Tea imports also declined slightly by 4.2%, suggesting stable or reduced consumption, or possibly cost-saving measures.
The data presents a mixed picture—while some food categories are seeing a sharp increase in imports, others are on the decline. Overall, the growing food import bill may prompt policymakers to reassess the country’s agricultural policies, import dependencies, and strategies for ensuring food self-sufficiency in the long term.
