SAPM on Commerce, Textile Industry and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood maintains that trade with India is the need of the hour as it is beneficial to both countries. Earlier this month similar views were expressed by country’ leading businessman and industrialist Mian Muhammad Mansha. Around this time, an Asian Development Bank (ADB) report highlighted the issue of Pakistan having one of lowest trade-to-GDP ratios in the world. The Bank’s report noted that the country does not have significant trading ties with neighbours in South Asia. There is a perception that the trade with India could lower the prices of agricultural goods and reduce transport expenses incurred on commodities imported from far-off countries that could be acquired from India at cheaper rates. Furthermore, a resumption of Pak-India trade could create an environment conducive to a peaceful resolution of the disputes that divide the two countries, the most vital as well as most complicated being the Kashmir issue. It needs to be noted that despite a full-fledged India-China war, recent bloody clashes and lingering border disputes, China and India have managed to maintain their trading relations which has benefitted both. What is required on the part of Pakistan, however, is to continue its unstinted and unwavering moral and political support to the Kashmiris’ right of self-determination and opposition to the ruthless use of force by India.
Trade relations between Pakistan and India have been suspended since August 2019 when New Delhi revoked the law providing special status to occupied Kashmir. The year 2021 started with a surprise announcement of cease-fire on the LoC while COAS Bajwa maintained when addressing the PAF graduation ceremony that that it was time to extend a hand of peace in all directions and Pakistan stood firmly committed to the ideals of mutual respect and peaceful coexistence. The year however ended in no major breakthrough.
The issue of trade relations with India is too important a matter to be decided by the ministry of trade alone. What is surprising is that the PTI government as a whole has not taken ownership of Razak Dawood’s position despite his being one of the Prime Minister’s closest aides. For purposes of validation and endorsement, the matter could be taken to Parliament for a joint government-opposition stand.
