No Pakistani stalls but products available at trade fair

Despite the absence of Pakistani stalls at the India International Trade Fair this year, many visitors on Tuesday were happy to find Pakistani products at stalls of domestic traders or participants from Dubai.

The traders had arranged for the products via Dubai as Pakistani traders did not participate in the trade fair this year.

Muhammad Anas, owner of Alibaba Textiles, a Delhi-based firm that displays dresses and dress material including lawn cotton suits, kurtas, wedding dresses and cloth at his stall inside the trade fair, said he had bought the stock from Dubai at higher prices than usual.

"I was aware that Pakistani stalls would not be present this year. That is why I got the stock from Dubai. I had to pay higher taxes though, but it is obvious that people here love to buy Pakistani dresses," Anas told IANS.

Stalls put up by traders from Pakistan generally attract many visitors and buyers.

Citing security reasons for the absence of any Pakistani stall, officials at the Pakistan High Commission said: "There are many security issues. Besides, Pakistanis were also denied visas to India this year. That is why the Pakistani stall is not there this time round."

A Dubai businesswoman, Simran, has put up a stall in the foreign participants area of Pragati Maidan where Pakistani dresses were available.

"I have got all the material from Dubai. People have always been fond of Pakistani dresses, that is why I chose to display this stuff," she said.

India-Pakistan relations took a turn for worse post an attack on the Indian Army base camp at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir, killing at least 18 army men, on September 18 this year.

After the attack, Pakistani artists were also banned in the Indian film industry.

--IANS

ruwa/rn/vt