Lok Sabha Question No. 1229 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-25
Subject: Trade between India and Pakistan
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: RAVINDRA VISHWANATH GAIKWAD

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1229(H) TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 TH  JULY, 2016

## TRADE BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN

## 1229(H). PROF. RAVINDRA VISHWANATH GAIKWAD:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वािणÏय एवं उɮयोग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of bilateral trade between India and Pakistan during the last three years and the current year;
- (b) whether the tension on the Line of Control is directly affecting the trade between the two countries;
- (c) if so, the details thereof along with the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (d) whether high-level meetings have been held by the two countries to improve the trade ties and if so, the details and the outcome thereof?

## ANSWER

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THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

- (a)  The  details  of  bilateral  trade  between  India  and  Pakistan  during  the  last  3 years and the current year, are given below:
- (b)  &  (c):  The  land  based  International  trade  between India and  Pakistan takes place through Attari-Wagha border, which is not on the Line of Control between India and Pakistan.

| Year                    |   Export |   Import |   Total Trade |
|-------------------------|----------|----------|---------------|
| 2013-14                 |  2274.3  |   426.88 |       2701.18 |
| 2014-15                 |  1857.29 |   497.31 |       2354.6  |
| 2015-16(P)*             |  2098.43 |   441.03 |       2539.46 |
| 2016-17(P)* (April-May) |   278.75 |    60.68 |        339.43 |

Source:  Export Import Data Bank of D/o Commerce and DGCIS, Kolkata

(d) During  the  7 th round  of  talks  on  Commercial  and  Economic  Cooperation between  Commerce  Secretaries  of  India  and  Pakistan  held  in  Islamabad  on September  20-21,  2012  it  was  agreed,  inter-alia  that  Pakistan  would  immediately remove  all  trade  restrictions  through  Wagha/Attari  border,  transition  fully  to  MFN (non-discriminatory) status for India by December, 2012, etc.  Pakistan, however, did not adhere to the timelines.

The  Commerce Ministers  of  India  and  Pakistan  met  on  18 th January  2014  on  the sidelines  of  the  5 th SAARC  Business  Leaders  Conclave  held  at  New  Delhi.  Both Ministers reaffirmed the commitment of their Governments to expeditiously establish normal  trading  relations  and  in  this  context  to  provide  Non-Discriminatory  Market Access  (NDMA),on  a  reciprocal  basis.    Both  sides  decided  to  intensify  and accelerate  the  process  of  trade  normalization,  liberalization  and  facilitation  and  to implement the agreed measures.

In  the  meeting  between  Prime  Ministers  of  India  and  Pakistan  on  27 th May  2014, India  stated  that  the  two  countries  could  move  immediately  towards  full  trade normalization on the basis of the September 2012 roadmap worked out between the Commerce Secretaries of both countries.

No bilateral trade meeting between India and Pakistan has taken place since then, and there is no progress on the agreed roadmap.

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