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Pakistan’s Indirect Imports from India Surge 37% in August Despite Trade Ban
Pakistan’s indirect imports from India hit $32M in August 2025, up 37% year-on-year — despite Islamabad’s ban on trade following India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.
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by Muhammad Hashir
2025-09-11
Pakistan’s Indirect Imports from India Surge 37% in August Despite Trade Ban

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s indirect imports from India rose sharply in August 2025, reaching $32 million, a 37 percent increase compared to the same month last year, according to sources in the Ministry of Commerce.

Data shows that in August 2024, Pakistan imported goods worth $23.3 million from India through indirect routes. Over the past one and a half years of the current government, indirect imports from India have reportedly increased sevenfold on a yearly basis.

Officials said that during March, August, and September 2024, Pakistan’s indirect imports from India showed annual growth. Similar increases were recorded in October 2024 as well as in February and March 2025.

The surge comes despite Islamabad’s decision earlier this year to ban all forms of trade with India, following New Delhi’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. Pakistan also prohibited the import of Indian goods via third countries in a bid to curb indirect trade.

Trade ties between the two neighbors were first severed in August 2019, when Pakistan suspended bilateral trade after India revoked Article 370 of its constitution, changing the status of Jammu and Kashmir. The ban was partially relaxed later to allow imports of life-saving medicines.

The latest figures highlight the complexities of Pakistan-India trade flows, with officials acknowledging that despite official restrictions, indirect channels continue to facilitate commerce.
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Pakistan

india

Trade
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