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<strong>Pakistan</strong>’s <strong>Trade</strong> with <strong>India</strong>: Thinking Strategically<br />
KeY issues To Be addressed<br />
Post-Liberalization <strong>Trade</strong> and Investment Volumes<br />
Gravity models predict that with the resumption of normal trade, the<br />
2009 <strong>Pakistan</strong>-<strong>India</strong> trade volume of $2 billion could be 5 to 10 times<br />
larger. 4 However, gravity models do not adequately capture the complex<br />
relationship between <strong>Pakistan</strong> and <strong>India</strong> that would come into<br />
play with the resumption of normal trade. On the one hand, there is<br />
historical and cultural similarity and, on the other, there are grievances<br />
and grudges. Recently, the <strong>Pakistan</strong> Business Council’s (PBC)<br />
regional trade group (comprised of businessmen, academics, and civil<br />
servants) conducted a survey of perceptions within the group. The<br />
range of perceived trade flows following liberalization is reported in<br />
Table 3. 5 The longer term perceived impact (after about 10 years of<br />
liberalization) is significant.<br />
However, in order for trade flows to realize their full potential, investment<br />
flows must also be on the normalization agenda. An influx of investment<br />
will be good news for <strong>Pakistan</strong>, as it currently needs capital inflows to<br />
Table 3: <strong>Pakistan</strong> Business Council (regional <strong>Trade</strong> Group<br />
Members) Perceptions on likely <strong>Trade</strong> and investment flows<br />
following india-<strong>Pakistan</strong> liberalization<br />
<strong>Trade</strong> Volume<br />
Short-term $1–5 billion<br />
Medium-term $10–20 billion<br />
Long-term $15–50 billion<br />
| 41 |<br />
investment flows into<br />
<strong>Pakistan</strong><br />
By <strong>Pakistan</strong>is By indians<br />
Substantial<br />
increase<br />
Sustained<br />
increase of<br />
more than $1<br />
billion a year