ISLAMABAD:

As Pakistan's trade deficit widened 44% in July due to a sharp rise in imports, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday expressed hope that it would be a "temporary dip," likely to be offset by an increase in exports driven by higher imports of raw materials.

While launching the first monthly development report for the fiscal year 2025-26, the minister said the benefit of the lowest US tariffs on Pakistan in the region would depend on exporters' ability to seize the opportunity by penetrating foreign markets.

The 44% higher trade deficit in July "is a temporary dip and will be offset by the increase in exports" in coming months, Iqbal said, when asked if the sudden jump was linked to the government's policy of opening the economy for foreign competition.

The government redu

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