This is apropos a Business Recorder news item "Growing India-Pakistan tension: Trade regime not changed: Dastgir" carried by the newspaper yesterday. According to it, Federal Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastgir Khan has said that despite diplomatic tension between Pakistan and India trade regime has not been changed.
Responding to a question with regard to the confirmation of a news item the minister said the government has not banned cotton import from India while the target for cotton import, ie, 0.5 million bales through Wagah border has not yet exhausted, adding that Karachi port is open and there is no limitation for cotton import.
The minister's remarks clearly showed that it is still struggling to firm up a policy response with regard to trade with India which has escalated tensions on the Line of Control (LoC) and Working Boundary in recent days and weeks. The government must look into the voices calling for an end to trade with India in an effective and meaningful manner.