Despite trade ban, Pakistan imports from India jump 2x in April-May

The Shehbaz Sharif-led govt named a senior official 'trade minister' in Pakistan's New Delhi embassy in May

Coinciding with the change in government in Pakistan in April, the country ramped up its imports from India despite Islamabad’s ban on trade with its eastern neighbour.

India’s exports to Pakistan more than doubled to $142 million in the April-May period, from $70 million during the same period a year ago, trade data available on the commerce ministry website showed. There were sugar exports worth $86 million during the period under review.

During the first two months of FY23, Pakistan imported 282 items from India, of which 67 were pharmaceutical products. Besides sugar and pharmaceutical products, Pakistan imported organic chemicals, apparel and