All trade routes closed for Pakistan: India scrutinising imports from UAE, Iran & other Gulf countries to spot Pakistani goods

Crackdown in opposition to Pakistan goods: India is protecting a hawk’s eye and conducting thorough inspections of imports from the UAE, Iran and other Gulf nations, together with particular transshipment hubs to stop oblique entry of Pakistani goods into the nation by these channels.Following the April 22 terrorist incident in Pahalgam that resulted in 26 killings, India enacted a whole ban on Pakistan goods, together with these coming into through third nations. Pakistan has additionally ceased all trade relations with India.Officials have intensified verification of import labels and origin standards for merchandise from these nations. This follows India’s earlier issues raised with the UAE concerning Pakistani dates being channelled into the nation, which violated the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.

Trade (Re)routes

An official instructed ET that imports through transshipment centres just like the UAE and sure countries are beneath shut watch for Pakistani merchandise. The guidelines of origin function the usual for establishing a product’s nationwide supply and corresponding responsibility advantages.India’s merchandise exports to the UAE reached $36.63 billion in FY25, while imports totalled $63.42 billion. During April-February of FY25, India’s date imports amounted to $270.4 million, with the UAE contributing $123.82 million of this whole. The total imports of recent and dried dates in FY24 had been valued at $277.25 million.Also Read | Backlash for assist to Pakistan: Indians cancel journeys to Turkey, Azerbaijan; journey portals report large dipBetween July 2024 and February 2025, Pakistan’s exports to the UAE witnessed a 28% development, reaching $1.2 billion in contrast to the earlier 12 months’s figures.On May 2, the Indian authorities imposed a complete ban on importing or transporting goods, whether or not immediately or not directly, that originate from or are exported by Pakistan.“This restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy,” the commerce and business ministry had stated in a notification. “Any exception to this prohibition shall require prior approval of the government of India.”A authorities official famous that while inspecting imports from a single nation is simple, the method turns into intricate when worth addition is concerned, necessitating extra thorough verification procedures. “Also, goods under transit are under scrutiny. India didn’t clarify in the notification that goods in transit will be exempt from scrutiny,” the official stated.Also Read | India-Pakistan ceasefire: How India’s punitive measures will proceed to hit Pakistan’s fragile financial system – definedDuring April-February of FY25, India’s imports from Pakistan totalled $2.88 million, primarily consisting of vegetation and seeds, dates, figs and malt extracts.The trade relationship had already skilled a decline after India carried out a 200% tariff on Pakistani merchandise in 2019, following the Pulwama terrorist assault.Despite India extending most favoured nation standing to Pakistan in 1996, Pakistan had not provided related therapy in return.