The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects Pakistan’s exports to grow by $13.79 billion over the next four years, in an outlook that contrasts with the government’s ambitious export targets.

The Shehbaz Sharif government has set an ambitious goal of increasing the country’s total exports to $60 billion by 2030.

However, the IMF believes Pakistan is unlikely to reach that mark, projecting exports of around $46 billion by 2030, well below the government’s target.

According to the IMF, Pakistan’s total exports are expected to rise to $36.46 billion next year.

Exports are projected at $40 billion in fiscal year 2028 and approximately $43 billion in fiscal year 2029, before increasing to $46 billion by fiscal year 2029-30.

On the imports side, the IMF has estimated an increase of $18.7 billion in Pakistan’s total imports by 2030.

The Fund projects that imports will exceed $64 billion in the current fiscal year, rise to $66.86 billion in 2027, and reach $72.9 billion in 2028.

Imports are expected to stand at $77 billion in 2029 and increase further to $82.81 billion by 2030.

The government had initially set a $60 billion export target, which it would achieve in three years.

However, it later revised the timeline, extending the time from three years to five years.