Pakistan Finance Minister Hammad Azhar announced the import from India in a press conference after the ECC meeting chaired by him.
Islamabad| Pakistan’s Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on Wednesday approved the proposal to import cotton and sugar from India. However, the proposal has been rejected by the Imran government. The ECC announced on Wednesday to import sugar, cotton and yarn from India.
According to Pakistan’s Human Rights Minister Shirin Mazari, Prime Minister Imran Khan has made it clear that relations with India will not be normal until the special status given to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 is restored.
Import was announced after the ECC meeting
Pakistan’s Finance Minister Hammad Azhar announced the import from India in a press conference after the ECC meeting chaired by him. He had said that the ECC has approved the proposal to import 5 lakh tonnes of sugar from India. Apart from sugar, a decision was taken to remove the ban on the import of cotton by June.
Indian sugar cheaper by 15 to 20 rupees from other countries
Azhar had said that imports from India have been approved to overcome the shortage of sugar in the country and to keep its prices under control. Sugar procured from India will be cheaper by 15 to 20 rupees per kg from other countries. He said that small and medium enterprises would benefit from sourcing cotton from a neighbouring country.
Politics over Indian Import
The Pakistan government has been facing severe criticism from opposition parties over the decision to procure sugar and cotton from India. According to Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) leader Ahsan Iqbal, the people of the country are paying the price for the Imran government’s failure.
Iqbal said in Islamabad, “I want to know if India has withdrawn its decision on article 370? Has India made any concessions also? All this proves that the government has failed to protect the country.”
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