Pakistan to resume trade with India? Finance Minister considers importing vegetables, edibles from India due to recent floods

Islamabad, Aug 30: With Pakistan witnessing the worst monsoon floods in a decade, Pakistan Finance Minister Miftah Ismail has announced a resumption of trade with India. Reportedly, flooding has affected more than 33 million people and millions of acres of rich farmland have been inundated.

 

 

PM Narendra Modi has expressed deep grief over the loss of lives due to floods in Pakistan. In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, "Saddened to see the devastation caused by the floods in Pakistan. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the injured and all those affected by this natural calamity and hope for an early restoration of normalcy."

 

In such crisis, Ismail said, "We will open trade route with India because of this flood and food price hike," according to local media reports. The country also said it can consider importing vegetables and other edible items from India.

 

 

Ismail, while talking to media persons, said the country's government "can consider importing vegetables and other edible items from India" for the facilitation of the people in wake of the destruction of standing crops in Pakistan due to recent floods, Radio Pakistan reported.

 

Minister Ismail was speaking to the local media on a range of issues including the devastating floods, the poor state of the Pakistani economy and protests by Imran Khan-led PTI.

 

In August 2019, relations between the two countries hit a new low after Pakistan decided to downgrade diplomatic ties with India, recall its high commissioner from New Delhi, expel the Indian envoy to Islamabad and suspend bilateral trade.