Pakistan resumes trade with India, lifts ban on cotton and sugar imports

Pakistan lifted a nearly two-year old ban on Indian sugar and cotton imports, government sources said, a step towards reviving suspended trade between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

Pakistan’s Economic Coordination Council, a top decision-making body, on Wednesday allowed the private sector to import 0.5 million tonnes of white sugar as Islamabad tries to keep soaring domestic prices in check, government officials told Reuters.

Pakistani buyers have already started making inquiries about buying Indian sugar and cotton, which is being offered at lower prices than supplies from other countries, five dealers said.

India is the world’s biggest producer of cotton and the second biggest