Pakistan-Bangladesh Trade Stuck at $1 Billion Against Multi-Billion Potential
Bilateral trade between Pakistan and Bangladesh stands at around $1 billion against a potential worth several billion dollars, Bangladesh High Commissioner Md Iqbal Hussain Khan said on Friday, calling for stronger cooperation, better connectivity and the removal of trade barriers to close the gap.
Speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the high commissioner said closer engagement between the business communities of both countries could significantly increase Pakistan Bangladesh trade. He identified agriculture, textiles, pharmaceuticals, engineering, food processing, chemicals, minerals, education, healthcare and tourism as promising areas of collaboration.
LCCI President Ali Hussam Asghar, Senior Vice President Sardar Usman Ghani, Vice President Chaudhry Khadim Hussain and Honorary Consul of Bangladesh Qazi Humayun Fareed also spoke at the event.
What Bangladesh wants to buy from Pakistan
The high commissioner laid out a detailed import wishlist. Bangladesh could expand imports of Pakistani maize, rice and basmati rice, textile raw materials, chemicals, minerals and manufactured goods, along with sugar, wheat, cereals and spices.
In the other direction, Bangladeshi pineapples have begun reaching Pakistan after regulatory clearances, and seasonal fruits, agricultural products and jaggery could further expand trade.
He also called for easier business visas, improved e-visa procedures and stronger direct air connectivity. Pakistan, he noted, could serve as a gateway to Central Asia, while Bangladesh offered access to Southeast Asia — a framing that turns geography into a shared commercial argument.
A dedicated trade cell and B2B push
The LCCI leadership responded with concrete proposals. President Asghar proposed a dedicated Bangladesh trade cell under the senior vice president to coordinate bilateral business activity. The plan includes identifying five priority export sectors, establishing a link with a leading chamber in Dhaka or Chittagong, and holding two to three virtual business-to-business meetings, followed by sector-specific meetings, trade delegations and reciprocal business visits.
Pakistani businesses have already participated in Made in Pakistan exhibitions in Bangladesh, and Bangladeshi business participation is expected at an international exhibition in Karachi in November.
The people-to-people side is moving too. More than 100 Bangladeshi students are studying at private universities in Pakistan, and the high commissioner identified opportunities in scholarships, medical tourism and tourism — including Bangladesh’s coastal areas and Pakistan’s northern regions.
Why Pakistan Bangladesh trade matters now
Relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh, strained since 1971, have been warming. The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry has set an ambitious target of raising Pakistan’s exports to Bangladesh to $3 billion within a few years, noting that medium-term potential could reach $5 to $7 billion, particularly in textiles, chemicals and dyes.
Bangladesh’s textile and apparel industry, valued at nearly $47 billion, makes it one of the world’s largest manufacturing hubs — and a natural market for Pakistani raw materials and chemical exporters.
Feature Pakistan has tracked the export push across sectors, from the poultry industry’s export strategy to the Prime Minister’s export-led growth agenda. Trade watchers have also noted Pakistan’s gains from the WTO’s raised forecasts and the push to accelerate the Pakistan-GCC free trade pact. The Bangladesh opening adds a significant eastern frontier to that effort.
For exporters, the envoy’s message was an invitation: the demand exists, the sectors are identified, and the diplomatic doors are open. What remains is for businesses on both sides to walk through them.
Frequently asked questions
How much is trade between Pakistan and Bangladesh currently worth?
Bilateral trade stands at around $1 billion, against a potential worth several billion dollars, according to Bangladesh High Commissioner Md Iqbal Hussain Khan.
Which sectors offer the most promise for Pakistan Bangladesh trade?
Agriculture, textiles, pharmaceuticals, engineering, food processing, chemicals, minerals, education, healthcare and tourism were identified as promising areas.
What is the LCCI proposing to boost trade with Bangladesh?
LCCI President Ali Hussam Asghar proposed a dedicated Bangladesh trade cell, five priority export sectors, a link with a leading chamber in Dhaka or Chittagong, and virtual B2B meetings followed by trade delegations.
Are there upcoming trade exhibitions between the two countries?
Pakistani businesses have participated in Made in Pakistan exhibitions in Bangladesh, and Bangladeshi participation is expected at an international exhibition in Karachi in November.
