Monday, July 18 2005 18:07 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Pakistan's exports to India rose from 72 million dollars to 155 million dollars in the last financial year registering a growth of 115%.

Exports to India grew by 83 million dollars in the period between July 2004 to May 2005; a local daily today quoted officials as saying.

The latest details about the bilateral trade between the two countries shows that petroleum products, molasses, textile items, fresh/dry fruits and vegetables fetched a major chunk of Pakistan's foreign exchange from India, 'The Nation' said.

The increase was considered as good news by Captains of Pakistan's business and Industry, who were arguing for more liberalisation of the trade regime with India.

Some sceptics, opposing trade liberalisation argue against opening up with India claiming that, Pakistan would be swamped by Indian products, while the government linked trade liberalisation with the Kashmir issue.

As per the official figures released recently, India-Pakistan trade has registered a 146 per cent jump in April-November, 2004. Total trade between the two countries stood at 380.79 million dollars, up from 154.95 million dollars in April-November, 2003-04.

Figures released by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce (FICCI) said between 2004 November and 2005 April, the total trade between the two countries stood around 381 million dollars with balance of trade of 248 million dollars in favour of India.