Pakistan's Trade Deficit Linked to Exchange Rate Misalignment, Urgent Diversification Needed
The impact of the real effective exchange rate (REER) on Pakistan's balance of trade (BOT) was studied from 1981 to 2015. The analysis showed a significant positive relationship between BOT and REER in both the short and long run. This means that when the REER is misaligned, it leads to a trade deficit. The study also found that Pakistan should diversify its exports beyond agricultural goods to improve its trade balance. Additionally, there is a connection between REER, terms of trade (TOT) deterioration, and foreign debt, with trade influencing exchange rates.