LAHORE: (APP) All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Central Chairman Aamir Fayyaz here Tuesday demanded immediate suspension of bilateral trade with India in the wake of prevailing hostilities.
“An immediate revision of trade ties is the need of the hour, especially considering the Indian government’s threats of stopping river water flow into Pakistan and its aggressive posturing,” he stressed.
He said, India’s recent pronouncements had exposed its designs to bring Pakistan’s agriculture to a halt and ultimately cripple its economy.
Aamir Fayyaz said the hostile attitude and vitiation of business relations by the Indian government made it impractical and unfeasible to continue to trade with India specially taking into account the uncertainty it had generated with regard to long-term decision making.
On grounds of reciprocity and principle also, trade with India required to be stalled forthwith, he suggested.
APTMA Chairman pointed out that trade data for 2015-16 indicated that Pakistan’s exports to India stood at USD 389 million against Indian exports of USD 2.2 billion to Pakistan, revealing a trade deficit of USD 1.8 billion in favour of India.
Unofficial imports from India via third countries specially Dubai was manifold of recorded imports from India.
One-sided and open access for Indian goods into the Pakistani market had resulted in job creation in India at the cost of thousands of lost jobs in Pakistan, he mentioned.
“Economic security is vital for securing national integrity and defence of the country,” he said.