ISLAMABAD: Pakis­tan’s trade deficit with Middle Eastern countries contracted by 3.99 per cent in the first quarter of FY26, mainly due to a simultaneous decline in imports and exports, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

The trade gap with the region fell to $3.558bn during July-September FY26, from $3.706bn in the same period last year. In contrast, the deficit had widened 7.37pc to $13.974bn in FY25, compared to $13.014bn a year earlier.

Imports from the Middle East dropped 5.48pc to $4.274bn in the first quarter, from $4.522bn in the........

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