Pakistan, Aug. 8 -- The recent decision by Washington to double tariffs on Indian goods, while maintaining lower duties on Pakistani exports, has reshaped South Asia's trade calculus. For Pakistan, this disparity offers a strategic commercial opening; one that must be converted into durable gains through industrial readiness, policy agility, and export discipline.

Pakistan already counts the United States as its single-largest export destination, with nearly $6 billion worth of goods (mostly textiles) shipped last year. The new 19% reciprocal tariff rate, described by the finance ministry as "regionally competitive," gives Pakistani exporters a cost advantage over Indian competitors now facing a 50% levy. This preferential access arrives...