India Urgently Seeks Data on Pharma Exports to Pakistan Amid Strained Ties
India requests urgent pharma export data to Pakistan after Pahalgam terror attack; trade tensions rise amid ongoing diplomatic strain.
India Seeks Urgent Pharma Export Data to Pakistan Amid Rising Tensions After Pahalgam Terror Attack and Bilateral Trade Strain
Amid increasing tensions between India and Pakistan, the Indian government has strategically opted to seek detailed data on the export of medicines and pharmaceutical products to its neighbour. The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers has asked the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India, Pharmexcil, to promptly supply the information. This request has come within the backdrop of the Pahalgam terror attack, which slammed 26 lives and once again strained the diplomatic and trade relations between the two countries.
India has alleged that Pakistan has been backing cross-border terrorism and has announced a handful of countermeasures. In retaliation, Pakistan not only denied all accusations but imposed countermeasures including suspending bilateral trade. This has further aggravated the desire to obtain clarity on current trade volumes particularly in critical areas like that of pharmaceuticals.
Pharmexcil, functioning under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has been assigned to collect data regarding pharmaceutical exports sent to Pakistan in terms of volume and nature. The authorities say that this information is being compiled on an “urgent” basis for appropriately guiding policy assessments and trade decisions. “We have asked for the export data to see what we are sending to Pakistan. Pharmexcil is working on it and will send details soon,” a senior official told Media.
Read more: India Puts Indus Waters Treaty On Hold: Big Moves Underway To Stop Water Flow To Pakistan
Preparations for trade between India and Pakistan have significance, albeit not one of its highest-rated relationships. Pakistan ranked 38 from 219 in India’s pharmaceutical export countries. In FY2023, India exported pharmaceuticals worth $191.36 million to Pakistan and in FY2024, this amount was around $176.54 million. The latest estimates place this trade at around $200 million.
Interestingly enough, a large part of this trade is made indirectly. Pakistan usually imports Indian pharma products via the UAE, with Dubai acting as crucial trading hub. This way of rerouting has helped to keep the flow of essential drugs steady, even amidst political hostility. “Most of the Indian exports to Pakistan will be active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). It will not hurt India at all by severing the trade ties in pharma, but it will hurt Pakistan since it will import more costly medicines and APIs from countries rerouting our medicines.” stated the government source.
APIs (active pharmaceutical ingredients) or bulk drugs are the major constituent of medicines providing therapeutic benefits. For example, paracetamol is the active key in an antipyretic drug such as Crocin. India is well known as the world leader in APIs and disruption in their supply can lead to upheavaying of prices and scarcity for countries depending on these imports.
Not for the first time have the geopolitical developments impacted trade between India and Pakistan. Other instances such as the Balakot airstrikes and the revocation of Article 370 led to the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, imposing trade bans on India. Pakistan would, however, later relax some restrictions on the import of pharmaceuticals, further reaffirming their greatest importance of such products.
With tensions rising once again, all eyes are upon the balancing act that this important sector poses, blending the geopolitical with humanitarian and economic necessities.
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