Pakistan aims $1bn exports to India within a year

The Dollar Business Bureau

As Pakistan’s textile products and readymade garments have huge market potential in India, it is planning to increase its exports to $1 billion within a year. Pakistan’s Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastagir Khan said this during a meeting with the Pak India Business Council delegation headed by Yawar Ali Shah on Tuesday in Islamabad.

According to the minister, Pakistan is the most affordable market for India. Due to the availability of land route, it will be cost effective to import from Pakistan. India mostly imports raw material for agriculture and textile products. Agricultural products such as green peas can be exported to India, as freezing plants are available at a low capacity of 200,000 tonnes.

Indian food manufacturers are also looking for various agricultural products such as Mango and Kinno from Pakistan which are available in specific seasons, the business delegation informed the minister. The trade between India and Pakistan would help in promoting various sectors including SME, Agriculture, Research, Tourism and Culture sectors. This would further improve the issue of branding and exchange of business visits.

The Pak India Business Council delegation explained to the minister about their recent meeting with the Indian business stakeholders. Another delegation of Pakistan Commercial Exporters Association also called on Dastagir Khan to encourage Gems and Jewellery exports. The minister said that the gems and jewellery products should be included in Trade Development Authority of Pakistan’s (TDAP) exhibition calendar.

The minister has assured complete support to the business interlocutors. He said that Pakistan’s government would work towards increasing exports from the country. Acting on the same the government has decided to provide enough funds to establish a multi-billion 'Expo Centre' in Peshawar during the next budget. The ministry has restructured National Tariff Commission (NTC) as per the legal framework guided by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.