Officials from the Pakistan Business Forum (PBF) have forecast that India could lose approximately $1.14 billion annually due to the suspension of trade activities with Pakistan, according to a report by The Express Tribune on Sunday (April 27).
Citing AP sources, PBF officials stated that from April 2024 to January 2025, India exported goods worth nearly $500 million to Pakistan, while imports from Pakistan amounted to only around $420,000.
Additionally, the Forum noted that Indian goods transiting through Pakistan to Afghanistan, valued at approximately $640 million, would also be disrupted due to the ban, further increasing India's trade losses.
The PBF expressed full support for the government's measures and called for national unity in defending Pakistan’s sovereignty.
PBF President Khawaja Mehboob ur Rehman said the business community firmly stands with Pakistan’s armed forces and will no longer tolerate India’s pattern of placing blame on Pakistan. "It has become a routine for them — remaining silent for years and then suddenly pointing fingers at Pakistan. Enough patience has been shown," he remarked.
Senior Vice President of PBF, Amna Munawar Awan, dismissed India's accusations following the Pahalgam attack as false and baseless. She described it as a failed attempt to divert attention from human rights violations in Indian-occupied Kashmir.
PBF Chief Organizer Ahmad Jawad stressed that trade ties should remain suspended until issues are resolved through mutual respect and dialogue. He accused India of undermining regional economic integration and peace initiatives.
The Forum also condemned India's decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, calling it detrimental to stability in South Asia.
Jawad added, "The only way forward is through unity, resilience, and prioritizing Pakistan first."
