Unlocking Economic Potential: India-Pakistan Trade Relations

Pakistan's New Security Policy and Its Economic Implications

The unfolding events in Pakistan reveal a fresh attempt to reinvent itself through a new national security policy (NSP), yet it seems to be taking two steps forward and one step back with its prerequisites for lasting peace with India, a century-old conundrum.

Pakistan's current leadership, with the military's influence not far behind, appears to be urgently navigating out of an economic crisis and a deteriorating geopolitical stance, once considered a strategic asset. However, the NSP might fall short of being the solution they need.

From Qayamat se Tomato Tak: The Tangible Benefits of Cooperation

It's worth noting that fostering better relations with India could be a lifeline for Pakistan, providing essential goods and potentially injecting millions into its faltering economy through trade. Having good relations with India will not only provide essential lifeline like vegetables (my earlier article Qayamat se Tomato tak on the subject) and some other commodities but also potentially add millions of dollars of economic trade value to its failing economy.  Despite India offering Most Favored Nation (MFN) status to Pakistan, the latter has yet to capitalize on it. Inquiries at the trade desk of Pakistan's High Commission in India would likely highlight these missed opportunities.

The Case for Normalization: Prof. Ishtiaq Ahmed's Insights on India-Pakistan Trade

In the below instance Prof. Ishtiaq ahmed, a swedish scholar of Pakistani origin makes a strong case to normalize business relations with India

  

India & Pakistan; the trade prospects

I have been in 2 management roles where i see huge economic opportunity with our estranged neighbour. The first I saw when i was with Milagrow, whose founder late Rajeev Karwal was in touch with a company called Dawlence in Pakistan. This struggling company wanted to utilise his turnaround skills in consumer durable industry and replicate what he had successfully done with LG in India earlier. A lot of things could have happened including a possible visit of mine to Pakistan if not for a deep freezing of relations in 2008 (post Mumbai attacks). As i have written earlier, India struggles with Pakistan as the proverbial Vikram Vs Betaal  

Currently in my executive role at Homeomart.com I see large number of Pakistani visitors regularly seeking homeopathic remedies for their health and wellness. In the illustrated image below, one of the visitor is seeking the service more as a 'favour for neighbour' because he believes that we are antagonistic to him. The reality is that neither DHL or India Post is ready to offer intermediary services to make this workable. A turnaround in relations could possibly mean Homeomart investing in Pakistan to tap its burgeoning market but that is a distant reality subject to its future relations with India and the economic climate it creates there. With various religious extremists groups created by ISI running loose there, it looks a bleak prospect

Beyond Borders: Cultural and Economic Synergies Await Realization

Pakistan economy can improve drastically if it opens its borders to Indian companies. There are many factors that can work to galvanize the trade ties (as opposed to 'Galwan'ize' which China did to hit on its own foot). If Pakistans scans its neighbourhood, it is only the Indian economy that can provide many advantages

• Physical Proximity to one of the world's fastest growing markets. Quick flow of goods and services. 
• Cultural proximity can cut communication issues and build trust that can help businesses grow
• Overlap of interests. For instance Pakistani love of music, films, cuisine, even a medical thing like homeopathy has a lot of cultural commons.

Your economic turnaround starts at your door steps Pakistan, as the saying goes 'modesty begins at home'.