ISLAMABAD, 1 April, 2021 (TON): As an indication of growing ties with India, the government of Pakistan has lifted a nearly two-year ban on the import of sugar and cotton from the neighboring country, the Finance Minister said

On Wednesday, the Finance Minister Hammad Azhar said, Pakistan would allow the import of 500,000 tons of white sugar from India to combat spiking domestic prices.

“In our neighboring country, in India, the price of sugar is much lower than in Pakistan,” said Azhar.

“So we have decided to open sugar trade with India, to the limit of 500,000 tons in the private sector,” he added.

“There is a large demand for cotton in Pakistan right now. Our exports have increased in textiles and the cotton crop was not good last year.

“So we allowed imports of cotton from all over the world, but it is not allowed from India and that causes a direct impact on [small and medium enterprises,” he said.

Meanwhile, while stating the minister asserted that a ban on the import of raw cotton from India would also be lifted by the end of June.

However, New Delhi so far offered no comment on the decision.