Normalising trade with India

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s recent statement about consultations with stakeholders on the resumption of trade ties with India marks a significant stride towards revitalising the economy and fostering peace in the region. For decades, it has been evident that major political parties on both sides have advocated for normalising trade relations, but some important stakeholders had reservations. However, the National Security Policy (NSP) announced in 2021 indicated that Pakistan is prepared to move on and prioritise geoeconomics over geopolitics. We need to recognise the importance of time and make smart choices for our future. Pakistan’s economy has not been doing well: in FY23, it shrank by 0.6 per cent, and it’s predicted to grow only by 2pc in FY24 against a population growth of 2.6pc.