Pakistan Export to Africa: A Guide for Manufacturers (2026)

Pakistan makes textiles, surgical instruments, sports goods, pharmaceuticals and engineering products, and its government has an explicit Look Africa Policy to find more export markets on the continent. This guide to Pakistan export to Africa is for manufacturers in Sialkot, Lahore, Karachi, Faisalabad and elsewhere who want to sell to African wholesalers and distributors. It covers what Pakistani government sources say, the registrations and customs steps, how certificates of origin work, which African markets Pakistan has focused on, and how to start a Comilmart supplier profile.

Pakistan export to Africa: what official sources say

The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) organised the 5th Pakistan-Africa Trade Development Conference and a Single Country Exhibition in Addis Ababa on 16 to 18 October 2025. Capital Ethiopia quoted a spokesperson on 8 September 2025 as saying trade between Pakistan and Africa had reached approximately US$1.6 billion, with a government aim of US$5 billion in the coming years. Exhibitors were listed as covering textiles, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, surgical instruments and sports goods, and the first four conferences were held in South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria and Kenya. Read the Capital report. The US$5 billion figure is a stated aim, not a forecast.

Pakistan's Press Information Department issued a statement on 15 October 2025 calling the event a milestone for the Look Africa Policy, which aims to diversify export markets and strengthen economic partnerships with Africa. It said more than 110 Pakistani companies were exhibiting across textiles, pharmaceuticals, engineering, IT, agriculture and food processing, and gave no trade values. See the official statement. An earlier APP report from March 2019 on a TDAP Look Africa campaign named textiles, surgical and sports goods, and agro-products as export sectors with potential in Africa.

What TDAP does for exporters

TDAP's page for its Asia, Africa and Oceania markets division says it coordinates Pakistani commercial sections abroad with TDAP product divisions, runs single-country exhibitions in markets where entry is desired, verifies the credentials of Pakistani companies and connects them with potential buyers, and runs webinars linking exporters with importers. Ask TDAP whether an upcoming exhibition or webinar covers your product, and what the cost of participation would be, because we have not read any fee information. Confirm programme details on TDAP's site as of October 2026.

Pakistan export to Africa: registrations and customs steps

TDAP's Step-by-Step Guide for New Exporters (Part A: Export Procedures, November 2020) lists the registrations as a business form and bank account, a National Tax Number with the Federal Board of Revenue (an STRN is optional and, it says, commercial exporters do not need one), membership of a chamber of commerce and the relevant trade association, a WeBOC ID for customs clearance, and registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission if you are a company. It names the documents as the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading and certificate of origin, plus the Goods Declaration filed online in WeBOC, and mentions the letter of credit, inspection or phytosanitary certificates where the buyer needs them. The guide is dated 2020, so check each step with TDAP, customs or your clearing agent. It is available on the TDAP site.

Pakistan Single Window (PSW) also offers a single export declaration. Its export module page says traders submit export clearance data once and that regulatory permissions are given without approaching different agencies separately. It says the user must have an active bank account with an authorised dealer linked to their PSW business profile, and that for letter of credit, contract/collection and advance payment modes a financial instrument must be associated with the declaration.

Certificates of origin

The TDAP guide says the Chamber of Commerce in your area issues the certificate of origin, that it may charge a fee or require membership, that some certificates need a seal from TDAP or an authorised chamber, and that an electronic certificate registered with TDAP is recommended. Not every African buyer will need one, so ask each buyer what their customs requires.

Textiles, surgical and sports goods: what buyers expect

For textiles, publish fabric composition, weights, colours and carton quantities by MOQ tier. For surgical instruments and medical devices, expect African regulators and hospital buyers to ask about registrations and quality certificates, and ask each buyer which authority and standard applies before you quote. For sports goods, publish sizes, materials and branding or private-label options. Our guide on MOQ and price tiers helps you set quantities, and exporting household goods to Africa shows how wholesalers compare general merchandise.

Which African markets to try first

Pakistan's conferences have been held in South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya and Ethiopia, and the Addis Ababa press coverage named Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan and Tanzania among attending African countries. Pick the market where you have a real enquiry. For East Africa, our guide to selling in Kenya as a foreign manufacturer is a practical start.

Routes and quoting

Ask your forwarder whether a direct service from your nearest Pakistani port reaches your buyer's port or whether cargo will be transhipped, and add lead time and quote validity to each quote. Small, high-value items such as surgical instruments may go by air, while textiles and sports goods in volume usually go by sea. Our guide to getting paid safely by African buyers compares payment structures for first orders.

Selling through Comilmart

Comilmart is a B2B and B2C marketplace for Africa. Suppliers list products with MOQs and tiered pricing, buyers post requests at /request-quotation, and approved suppliers browse open requests on their RFQ board and respond with a quotation or chat directly with the buyer. Sample orders and live chat are available, and buyer protection holds payment until delivery is confirmed with a 7-day window. You arrange and pay for shipping; Comilmart does not handle freight, customs clearance, duties or delivery, and it cannot promise orders or prices. Ask about supplier payment methods and currencies through live chat or /contact-us.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Look Africa Policy? Pakistan's government describes it as aiming to diversify export markets and strengthen economic partnerships with Africa.

Who issues a Pakistani certificate of origin? The TDAP guide says the Chamber of Commerce in your area issues it, sometimes with a TDAP or chamber seal.

What is WeBOC? The TDAP guide describes it as the customs system used for filing the Goods Declaration.

Can a Pakistani manufacturer apply to Comilmart? Yes. The application is free and any country is accepted.

Does Comilmart ship my goods? No, the seller arranges and pays for shipping.

Getting started

To grow Pakistan export to Africa on a verified profile, begin at /sell-to-africa and apply at /apply-manufacturer. The know-your-supplier form asks for your company registration number, tax number, a business licence upload, a registration certificate upload, at least two sample product images, your company mission, vision and core values, and at least one B2B category. Applying is free, a Pakistani address is accepted, and the form states admin review takes about 24 to 48 hours. Plans are $0 (Standard), $99 (Starter), $300 (Verified) and $800 (Verified Pro) per year.