ISLAMABAD  -  The Afghan Transit Trade (ATT) has recorded a slump of 66 percent during the first eight months of the ongoing fiscal year as compared to the corresponding period of the FY2023-24 mainly due to the anti-smuggling drive and import restrictions by Pakistan.

Afghan Transit Trade has declined by $1.489 billion during the first eight months (July-February) of the FY2024-25 as compared to the same period of the previous fiscal, official source told The Nation here Sunday. The Afghan Transit Trade data for the period of July-February 2024-25 shows a significant decline compared to the previous year. Forward cargo, which refers to goods imported into Afghanistan through Pakistan, dropped by 67 per cent, from $2,197 million in 2023-24 to just $729 million in 2024-25. Reverse cargo, which includes goods exported from Afghanistan, saw a decrease of 46 per cent, falling from $ 46 million to $ 25 million. Overall, the total transit trade decreased by 66 per cent, from $ 2,243 million last year to $754 million during the ongoing fiscal year. This decrease is primarily attributed to Pakistan’s anti-smuggling efforts and import restrictions.

Afghan Transit Trade has declined by 7 percent, from $82 million to $77 million in February 2025 on year-on-year basis, the source said. The forward cargo (import) under ATT declined by 6 percent to $73 million in February 2025 from $78 million in February 2025.While the reverse cargo (export) slumped by 9 percent, from $4.4 million in February 2024 to $4 million during the same month of 2025, the source added. From July to January 2024-25, the slump in ATT was 69 percent, however in February the pace of decline has slowed down to 66 per cent. Notably, in the previous fiscal also, the Afghan Transit Trade had recorded a huge decrease of 59 per cent from $7.095 billion in 2022-23 to $2.887 billion during 2023-24.