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Trade items including dry fruits and chemicals worth around $500 million are reportedly entering India via intermediary nations such as the UAE, Singapore, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, according to an official, quoted by news agency PTI.
The official indicated that a considerable portion of the Pakistani exports previously sent directly to India are now being channelled through alternative countries.
The UAE reportedly serves as a repackaging and relabelling point for Pakistani fruits, dry dates, leather, and textiles before their dispatch to India, whilst chemicals are reportedly sent via Singapore.
Indonesian territory is utilised for transiting Pakistani cement, soda ash, and textile raw materials. The official claimed that Pakistani dried fruits, salt, and leather products are being transported to India through Sri Lanka.
Given the likelihood of $500 million worth of exports reaching India through alternative routes, the official emphasised the necessity to implement a complete prohibition on Pakistani exports to India, whether direct or indirect, and to monitor and identify goods that might enter through origin manipulation. "This comprehensive ban imposed by India including a ban on indirect exports would enable the customs authorities to prevent Pakistan exports from entering India through circumvention," the official added.
