Trade boost: India Likely to Increase Engineering Goods Exports to Pakistan.

LUDHIANA: Pakistan’s decision to remove restrictions on import of 12 items from India, including raw material, has triggered fresh hopes for the engineering goods industry in Ludhiana, Indian Punjab.

The city has been exporting goods worth over Rs1 billion every year through Middle Eastern countries to Pakistan, TNN news agency reported on Tuesday.

Pakistan’s decision is an attempt to normalise trade relations between the two countries. As commerce secretaries of India and Pakistan were meeting in New Delhi to work out a policy, leading Indian industrialists keep their fingers crossed, hoping that their business will get a boost.

Auto Parts Manufacturers Association President and Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings Vice-President Gurpargat Singh Kahlon said auto parts, tractor parts and tools worth over Rs1 billion were exported from Indian Punjab through Dubai to Pakistan.

Ranjodh Singh, Managing Director of GS Group of Companies, which exports radiators, earthmovers, generator sets, tractors and cranes, said, “This decision will increase Indian exports by almost four times the present trade.

“Leave aside export through Dubai, if Pakistan removes curbs, exports from Ludhiana to Lahore would be cheaper than routing it through Delhi as Delhi is 325 km away while Lahore is merely 180 km from Ludhiana. We are eagerly waiting for results of the meeting in Delhi.’’

Source : tribune.com.pk