BD-Pak trade boosts with pineapple exports
Dhaka and Islamabad are moving to broaden their economic engagement beyond traditional commodities, with fresh pineapple exports from Bangladesh to the Pakistani market emerging as the latest opening in a relationship that has seen a marked revival in trade, connectivity and wider commercial cooperation.
Pakistan has now given regulatory approval for the import of fresh pineapples from Bangladesh, according to the Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad, according to Bangladesh High Commission in Pakistan said on Saturday in a post on its Facebook page.
The approval followed several years of engagement involving the High Commission, the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Karachi, the Department of Agricultural Extension, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, alongside relevant Pakistani authorities.
The opening of the Pakistani market is expected to create opportunities for Bangladesh to expand exports of other agricultural products and fruits, potentially helping to diversify a bilateral trade relationship that remains heavily weighted in Pakistan’s favour.
The latest available trade data show that Pakistan exported $715.6 million worth of goods to Bangladesh in fiscal year 2025-26, while its imports from Bangladesh stood at $67.2 million, according to Pakistan’s trade statistics.
The two-way merchandise trade therefore amounted to about $782.7 million during the year. Pakistani exports to Bangladesh declined by 9.3 per cent from $789 million in FY2024-25, while imports from Bangladesh fell by 14.2 per cent from $78.3 million.
The figures underline both the scale of existing commercial links and the considerable imbalance in the trading relationship.
Bangladesh has been seeking greater access to the Pakistani market for its agricultural, pharmaceutical, textile and other manufactured products.
The pineapple approval is particularly significant because agricultural trade has become one of the areas in which the two sides see scope for rapid expansion.
Pakistan has also expressed interest in importing other Bangladeshi products, while Bangladesh has shown interest in Pakistani commodities including rice, sugar, pulses, edible oil, fertiliser, minerals and other industrial inputs.
The two countries have been working to institutionalise the renewed economic engagement. In August 2025, Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan and Bangladesh’s then Adviser for Commerce agreed to establish a Joint Working Group on Trade and reactivate the Joint Economic Commission, whose previous meeting had been held in 2005.
Their discussions covered a broad range of potential cooperation, including agricultural modernisation, renewable energy, steel, shipbuilding, green ship recycling, minerals, construction materials, halal trade, sugar, leather, rice, dehydrated fruits and agro-processing.
Both sides also discussed reducing tariffs and duties and providing preferential access for selected Bangladeshi products in Pakistan.
Industrial cooperation is also emerging as another pillar of the relationship. Pakistani officials have identified opportunities in pharmaceuticals, textiles, leather, shipbuilding, sugar, agro-processing, information technology and small and medium-sized enterprises, while both sides have discussed joint ventures, investment and exchanges of technical expertise.
Energy and raw materials are another area of potential growth. Pakistan has expressed interest in supplying Bangladesh with commodities such as coal and limestone, while discussions have also covered renewable energy and broader industrial linkages.
Apart from export of commodities, direct Bangladesh-Pakistan flights resumed in January 2026 after a 14-year interruption, with the inaugural service operating between Dhaka and Karachi.
The restoration of the air link is expected to facilitate business travel, tourism, trade delegations and people-to-people contacts.
The two sides have also been pursuing improved maritime and logistical connectivity to reduce the cost and time involved in bilateral commerce.
During their renewed economic discussions, officials highlighted the need to improve shipping and logistics and to make trade routes more economical.
The commercial push comes amid a broader improvement in bilateral engagement. Business organisations in both countries have been encouraged to increase exchanges, participate in trade exhibitions and develop business-to-business links.
Potential areas discussed include renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, automotive components, fast-moving consumer goods and IT.
For Bangladesh, the expansion of exports to Pakistan could provide an additional market for agricultural and manufactured goods, while greater access to Pakistani commodities could help diversify sources of industrial and food-related imports.
The pineapple decision therefore carries significance beyond a single agricultural commodity. It represents another step towards widening the economic relationship and reducing its dependence on a relatively narrow range of goods.
Sources said that Dhaka and Islamabad seek to translate their recent diplomatic rapprochement into broader commercial and investment ties.
