According to latest figures of the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics, Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoCI), Government of India, Pakistan’s exports to India between April-December 2012 show a growth of 66% over the same period in 2011, while India’s exports to Pakistan grew by 16% in April-December 2012. Pakistan’s exports to India in the nine months of 2012 stood at $ 460 million, which is much more than $ 277 million during April-December 2011 and is also more than the value of Pakistan’s exports to India ($ 401 million) in the entire previous year (April 2011-March 2012). The growth of $ 183 million in Pakistan’s exports to India during April-December 2012 is more than the increase of about $ 170 million in its imports from India in the same period. MoCI figures also indicate that the share of Pakistan’s exports in bilateral trade with India has almost doubled since 2009-10.
The impressive increase in Pakistan’s exports during April-December 2012 reflects the benefits of the steps taken to enhance bilateral trade, and improvement of trade environment, aided by SAFTA tariff reductions. In order to address concerns of Pakistan’s exporters, the two countries had also signed three agreements in 2012 in areas of customs cooperation, mutual recognition of standards and redressal of trade grievances. A number of trade organisations in both countries have promoted, especially in 2012, greater exchange of trade and business delegations between India and Pakistan. Liberalised visa provisions pertaining to business persons will further facilitate such exchanges.
