New Delhi, Aug 14 (KNN)  Recent incidents on the Line of Control (LoC) in the past few months have not affected bilateral trade between India and Pakistan which has grown to USD 2.5 billion in 2012-13 from USD 1.94 billion in the previous year.

"Incidents on the Line of Control in the past few months have not affected bilateral trade between India and Pakistan," Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, D Purandeswari said in Parliament today. 

Bilateral trade between India and Pakistan is conducted mostly through Mumbai-Karachi sea route and Attari-Wagha land route. 

“India has similarly liberalized its earlier restrictions on inward/outward investment flows to Pakistan. Both sides also agreed on a detailed roadmap for Preferential Trading Arrangements under the SAFTA (South Asia Free Trade Area) process,” Purandeswari added.

Both sides have made considerable progress in improving bilateral trade ties, she said. 

India's main exports to Pakistan include oil meals, chemicals, rubber and petroleum while imports include cement, gypsum and dry fruits.

However, Pakistani media reported that trade of fruits and vegetables between Pakistan and India have been impacted due to the tension between the two over the Line of Control (LoC).

Trade between the two countries has completely stopped at the Chakoti border, say Pak media reports. (KNN/SD)