Why Pakistan Hasn’t Got BRICS Membership Even After Years Of Trying?

Source: NewsX | Original Published At: 2026-09-12 03:24:33 UTC

Key Points

• Pakistan has sought BRICS membership since November 2023 and submitted a formal application.
• Pakistan purchased a $580 million stake in the BRICS-backed New Development Bank as part of efforts to diversify its financial options.
• BRICS expanded last year to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the UAE, forming what is often called BRICS Plus.
• The bloc represents about 49% of the world's population and around 40% of global GDP on a purchasing power parity basis.
• BRICS admission operates on a consensus-based system requiring unanimous approval from existing members.
• India has consistently withheld approval, blocking Pakistan's entry despite reportedly quiet backing from Russia and China.
• India's exports to BRICS nations rose 48.8% from $64.3 billion to $95.7 billion.