ISLAMABAD, May 25: Pakistan’s import from India has declined by over 12 per cent during the July-March period of the current financial year in comparison to the same period last year.

Official sources told Dawn that the suspension of air, Samjhota train and bus services between the two states since January 1, 2002, resulted in decline of bilateral trade.

It may be added that freight trains are in operation even after the suspension of air, bus and road links.

Officials were of the opinion that the prevailing tension at the boarders could further deteriorate the bilateral trade between the two countries.

On the other hand, Pakistan’s export to India had registered a growth of 7.38 per cent during the July-December period of the current financial year to Rs1.802 billion against Rs1.678 billion during the same period last year.

While imports from India increased by 17.87 per cent to Rs6.383 billion during the first six months of the current financial year against Rs5.415 billion during the same period last year.

Official document available with Dawn showed that Pakistan’s imports from India during the July-March period stood at Rs8.479 billion this year against Rs9.662 billion during the same period last year, showing a decline of 12.24 per cent.

And during March this year imports from India declined by 33.01 per cent to Rs964.066 million against Rs1,439.158 million during the same month last year.

On the other hand, Pakistan’s total exports to India registered a marginal growth of 1.67 per cent to Rs2.509 billion during the July-March period of the current financial year against Rs2.468 billion during the same period last year.

On monthly basis, exports to India declined by 21.61 per cent during March this year to Rs200.697 million against Rs256.041 million during the same month last year.

Further break-up showed that following the suspension of air, bus and Samjhota train between the two countries, Pakistan’s imports from India declined by

56.08 per cent during January this year in comparison to the same month of last year, while Pakistan’s export to India during the same month registered a growth of 21.11 per cent over the corresponding month of last year.

During February this year, exports to India declined by 25.98 per cent in comparison to the same month of last year, while imports from India declined by 64.5 per cent during the same month this year over the corresponding month of last year.

Imports of refined sugar and sugarcane from India declined by 58.96 per cent during the July-March period of the current financial year in comparison to the same period of last year; black tea by 53.89 per cent; cardamom (large) by 54.02 per cent; and oil-cake, residue of soybeans by 59.25 per cent, while the copies of Holy Quran imported worth Rs491,000 this year against no import of the same over the corresponding period of last year.

Export of green moong split increased by 11.56 per cent during the July-March period of current financial year in comparison to the same period of last year, kishmish by 37.68 per cent; dates (dried) by 7.91 per cent; plants for perfume by 81.66 per cent; leather products by 52.28 per cent and cotton yarn by 72.57 per cent.

And Pakistan exported footballs worth Rs2.634 million during the July-March period of current fiscal against zero export of the same product over the corresponding period of last year, while export of unrecorded tapes and cassettes to India stood at Rs3.043 million during the same period this year against no export last year during the same period.

However, export of green moong dry declined by 50.14 per cent during the July-March of the fiscal against the same period last year; dates fresh by 37.81 per cent; and asafoetida by 23.57 per cent.

Export of tents of cotton stood at Rs281.154 million last year during the period under review against no export this year, while export of tents of synthetic fibre last year was Rs5.458 million against zero export this year during the same period.