India allows Pakistan to re-export dates

Indian customs permitted Pakistan to re-export the dried date shipments, which were stuck at the Attari border checkpost ever since the trade activities between the two nations were virtually halted following the Pulwama attack.

Islamabad: India has allowed Pakistan to re-export to India the huge shipments of dried dates that have been lying at the Attari border check-post since the Pulwama attack, reports The Dawn.

An official statement issued by Pakistan's Commerce Division said that the shipments have been stuck at the border since February 16, says the report. The Indian Customs authorities allowed the re-exports following concerted efforts by the Pakistan Horticulture Development Export Company.

India is Pakistan's largest date market. Around 96 per cent of Pakistani dates is exported to India. India's strong measure after Pulwama has put the Pakistani date farmers in a tight situation. There are about 1,50,000 bags of dried dates which are waiting to be taken care of at the Attari border.

Indian response has forced Pak authorities to think of ways to reduce dependence on India. Pakistan is now exploring other markets for its dates in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal.

According to The Dawn, the Commerce Division statement said a long-term strategy to minimise dependence on India has been devised and will be implemented in the coming months.