PBF projects $1.14 billion trade loss for India amid Pakistan trade restrictions

KARACHI: Officials from the Pakistan Business Forum (PBF) have estimated that India could face trade losses of around $1.14 billion due to restrictions on using Pakistan for trade activities. PBF representatives noted that between April 2024 and January 2025, India exported approximately $500 million worth of goods to Pakistan, while imports from India were merely $420,000.

Moreover, they highlighted that the disruption of Indian goods transiting through Pakistan to Afghanistan, estimated at about $640 million annually, would further exacerbate India’s trade losses.

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Khawaja Mehboob Ur Rehman, President of the PBF, stated that the business community stands firmly behind the Pakistan Armed Forces. Senior Vice President Amna Munawwar Awan dismissed India’s claims following the Pahalgam attack as “absurd lies.” Chief Organizer Ahmad Jawad called for a complete suspension of trade relations until issues are addressed with “mutual respect and equality.”

The forum also criticized India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, describing the move as “ridiculous and detrimental” to stability in South Asia, reported Nukta.com.

“The only way forward is through unity, resilience, and putting Pakistan first,” Jawad concluded.