ISLAMABAD, March 1: Pakistan’s bilateral trade with India has registered a steep upward trend during the first six months of the current financial year compared to the same period last fiscal.

Officials said despite suspension of air, Samjhota train and bus services between the two states since January 1, 2002, it would have little impact on the bilateral trade between the two countries. It may be added that freight trains are in operation even after the suspension of the air and road links.

Official documents available with Dawn showed that Pakistan’s total export to India surged by 7.38 per cent during the first six months (July-Dec) of the current financial year over the corresponding period of the last year.

Exports to India during the first half stood at Rs1.802 billion against Rs1.678 billion during the same period last year.

Similarly, exports increased by 2.15 per cent to Rs202.647 million during December 2001, compared to Rs198.376 million same month in 2000.

On the other hand, imports from India surged by 17.87 per cent to Rs6.383 billion during July-Dec period of the current fiscal against Rs5.415 billion during the same period last fiscal.

However, imports from India slightly declined by 2.2 per cent to Rs1.014 billion during December 2001, from Rs1.037 billion during the same month of 2000.

Pakistan’s major exports to India, which registered a marginal growth during the July-Dec period mainly included green beans (moong dry & split) Rs1.72 billion during July-Dec period this year against Rs0.23 billion last year, kishmish Rs25.41 million this year against Rs15.76 million last year, fruits (fresh & dry) Rs67.481 million this year against Rs29.633 million last year, rock salt Rs24.763 million this year against Rs9.907 million last year.

Export of leather products stood at Rs18.183 million this fiscal against Rs14.069 million last fiscal, cotton yarn Rs100.49 million this year against Rs67.256 million last year, mulhati Rs102.881 million this year against Rs43.066 million last year and napkin Rs8.815 million this year against no export of the same commodity during the same period last year.

However, during the July-December period only the export of dates (fresh & dried) to India declined from Rs1.01 billion last year to Rs908.768 million this year due to the prevailing conditions in the region.

Similarly, imports from India, which registered a positive growth during the same period this year mainly included black tea Rs54.737 million this year against Rs48.759 million last year, manganese ores and concentrates Rs92.604 million this year against Rs70.854 million last year, iron ore agglomerates Rs341.860 million this year against Rs188.75 million last year, betel leaves Rs127.08 million this year against Rs8.247 million last year.

Imports of plant for perfume pharma from India stood at Rs54.769 million this year against Rs34.56 million last year, xylenes pure Rs1.16 billion this year against no imports of the same during the same period last year, teripthalic acid Rs349.231 million this year against Rs151.761 million last year, tirephthalic acid and its salts Rs124.13 million this year against Rs98.583 million last year, antibiotics NS Rs107.178 million this year against Rs73.79 million last year, polypropylene Rs388.812 million this year against Rs234.051 million last year, tyres and tubes Rs38.052 million this year against Rs25.013 million last year and machinery and its parts Rs117.521 million this year against Rs21.582 million during the same period last year.

The commodity, import of which declined during the same period this year mainly included, sugar imports of which declined from Rs2.127 billion last year to Rs1.151 billion this year, cardamoms large from Rs107.302 million last year to Rs51.544 million this year and oil-cake, residue of soybeans from Rs716.651 million last year to Rs368.106 million this year.

Pakistan’s total exports from India during the year 2000-01 stood at $55.397 million, whereas India total exports to Islamabad during the same period stood at $235.86 million.