KARACHI, May 8: Local exporters have sent 15,000 tons of desi chick-peas to India from April till now this year after a gap of over five years as a result of bumper crop of 750,000 tons as against last year’s of 475,000 tons.

Local dealers have initially made shipments of desi chickpeas at the rate of $290-300 per tons to the importers of Bombay, Calcutta and Madras mainly as against the export price of about $350 per tons prevailing in world markets.

“The commodity has landed at a very good time in India when both India and Pakistan have already been making efforts to resume trade and bilateral relations with a renewed confidence,” Chairman Karachi Wholesale Grocers Association (KWGA), Anis Majeed told Dawn on Thursday.

“Trade between the two neighbouring countries will boost if political relations improve with the passage of time,” he hoped.

Out of total annual consumption of 600,000 tons, Pakistan would have a surplus of 150,000 tons this year due to sizable increase in crop this year. Pakistan imported 148,000 tons last year.

“We have still got an enquiry of 5,000-7,000 tons from Indian importers who are now demanding a price cut of $5-10 per tons from us,” he said.

“I think we are getting quite better rates under the current circumstances,” he said, and if favourable trading conditions prevail, local dealers are hoping to send 100,000 tons of desi chickpeas to India in the next four to five months.

He said Indian importers had diverted towards Pakistan as a result of higher prices of $340-350 per metric tons, being offered by Australia. Reports are arriving that crop in Australia is lower than the last year. Canada was offering chickpeas at the rate of $350 per ton but its quality was inferior as compared to Pakistan, Anees said.

He said chances were good to send more desi chickpeas from Pakistan as India was experiencing a bit thin crop this year.

Besides India, enquiries are pouring in from England, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and exporters are looking forward to exporting to these destinations, he said.

India has also been buying mung pulse from Pakistan for the last two to three years, he said.

President Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Mian Nasser Hyatt Magoo has also confirmed that 15,000 tons of desi chickpeas have been exported to India. He said some handicrafts and traditional embroidery clothes items from interior Sindh and some chemicals are also being exported to the neighbouring country.

“I think there should be trade between the two countries and it must gain momentum in future,” he said.

However, he said, the federal government had neither approached the Chamber nor sought any point of view from the KCCI since both the countries had resumed bilateral and trade talks.