(a) the details of trade with Pakistan including export of sugar to Pakistan during the last six months alongwith foreign exchange earned therefrom;
(b) whether trade with Pakistan has increased consequent upon opening up of Indo-Pak border;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the steps taken to further increase exports to Pakistan?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY ( SHRI E.V.K.S. ELANGOVAN)
(a) to (d) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 290 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.12.2005 REGARDING TRADE WITH PAKISTAN
(a): Provisional figures of bilateral trade are available up to August, 2005 during this year according to which during the period April-August 2005 the total export from India to Pakistan has been valued at US$ 240.55 million as compared to US$210.17 million during the corresponding period in 2004 registering an increase of 14.45%. The imports from Pakistan during April-August 2005 has been valued at US$.58.05 million as compared to US$ 29.95 million during the corresponding period in 2004 registering an increase of 93.83%.
The ten top items exported from India to Pakistan during April-August 2005 are
(1) Dyes/intermediates and coal tar chemicals
(2) Petroleum crude & products
(3) Oil meals
(4). Drugs, pharmaceuticals & fine chemicals
(5) Pulses
(6) Rubber manufactured products except footwear
(7) Iron ore.
(8) Plastic & linoleum products
(9) cotton raw including waste and
(10) Inorganic/organic/agro- chemicals. There was no export of sugar.
The ten top items imported from Pakistan during the period are
(1) Pulses,
(2) Cotton yarn & fabrics ,
(3) Fruits & nuts excluding cashew nuts,
(4) Organic chemicals
(5)Manmade filaments/Spun yarn,
(6) leather,
(7) non-ferrous metals,
(8)raw wool
(9) Spices and
(10) Metalifers Ores and Metal Scrap.
The details of exports and imports till 2004-2005 are available in Department`s Website `www.commerce.nic.in under the head Information Dissemination/Monitoring System - Export Import Data Bank.
(b) and (c): In May 2005, Pakistan announced its decision to import twelve items on duty-free basis from India including through Attari-Wagah land route. These items consist of live animals, halal meats and agricultural items namely, Potatoes, Tomotoes, Onions and Garlic.
In August 2005 Pakistan included Sugar in their Positive List of importable items from India and allowed import of raw and refined sugars from India both by Public and Private Sectors including via land route, on duties and taxes as levied on its import from worldwide sources.
The trade (only export) with Pakistan through Land Customs Station (LCS), Attari Road has commenced from July 2005 and uptill now there has been no export of sugar. The details of items exported through this LCS since July 2005 are given below:
S.No. Commodity Quantity FOB value (Metric Tonnes) (in lakhs of Rs.)
1 Garlic 938.70 202.18 2 Potato 526.500 39.75 3 Livestock 489 Nos. 7.66 4 Ginger 181.426 25.83 5 Frozen Halal 28.500 12.92 Meat 6. Sugar Nil Nil
Total Value 288.34 (US$ 0.63 million)