“Until it is possible to act immediately, until the direct import or transit of all goods that are freely imported or otherwise allowed or exported from Pakistan shall be immediately prohibited,” the General Administration of Foreign Affairs said in a notice on Friday. “Any exemption or distribution shall be made on the basis of the Kasset case.” The order on Pakistan's ships was issued by the Mumbai Shipping Authority and Saturday was “to ensure the security of Indian assets, cargo and interconnected infrastructure”.
Reduce bilateral trade
According to the order, it was “in the public interest, in the interest of transport in India”.
The shipping industry representative said Pakistan marked the ship deal with India.
“DG Shipping Orders prohibit any ships with Pakistani cargo from docking at Indian ports. This has a greater impact because the routes require redefining global trade,” an industry observer told ET.
Pakistan earlier announced the cessation of all trade relations with India, including through third countries.
From April 2024 to January 1, 2025, Indian goods were imported from Pakistan, totaling US$420,000, plants and seeds, dates, figs and map extracts were the most important items, down from US$20.21 million in fiscal 223.
According to the latest order, foreign trade policies have been revised in 2023. “This will prohibit imports from Pakistan directly or through any other trade route,” a statement issued by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce on Saturday.
India imposed 200% of its duty on Pakistani goods in 2019 after the Pulwama terrorist attack in February, when Imran Khan's government in Islamabad suspended trade relations and bilateral trade has been declining after India revoked its special status in August of that year.
The most popular country
Although India granted Pakistan the status of “the most popular country” in 1996, neighbors never paid back.
India-Pakistan trade has signed $2.2 billion of $2.2 billion from $2.5 billion in fiscal 2019.
“India does not rely on Pakistani goods, so the economic impact is small,” said Ajay Srivastava, founder of the Global Trade Research Program, a think tank based in Delhi.
He added: “However, Pakistan still needs Indian products and may continue to access them through third countries through recorded and unrecorded routes.”
