In response, Naba Kumar Das, chairman of the Tea Board of India said the exports to Pakistan would almost double during this fiscal to nearly 6 million kg from 3.7 million kg last year. While India is the largest producer of tea in the world (830 million kg in 2002), Pakistan is the second largest consumer of tea in the world (140 million kg).
Saeed Ahmed Khawaja, chairman, PTA identified two key factors that were responsible for Indian tea to be unpopular in Pakistan, besides the non-existence of a Free Trade Agreement.
