Pakistan rejects reports of trade relations with Israel

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has strongly rejected reports of trade relations with Israel by terming such information “sheer propaganda”.

In a press release issued in Islamabad, the Ministry of Commerce stated that the rumours about beginning of Pakistan-Israel trade is sheer propaganda after a news release of American Jewish Congress which was misrepresented.

“Even in their press release they nowhere mentioned about official trade between Pakistan and Israel,” a spokesman at the ministry said, adding “However, neither we have any trade relations with Israel nor we intend to develop any.”

A Jewish Pakistani Fishel Benkhald had sent food samples to three businessmen in Jerusalem and Haifa through UAE in personal capacity who he met in foreign countries during food exhibitions.

Nevertheless, it was not supported by Pakistan Government and no banking or official channel was involved either.

The spokesman further stated that in our talks with UAE, the issue of origin will be strictly implemented. UAE has curtailed tariffs on 96 percent goods traded with Israel which has benefited traders from UAE to Israel.

Pakistan has very clear policy of trade with countries. According to Import Policy Order, 2022 Pakistan has explained the prohibition of trade with various economies.

According to the Import Policy Order: “Import of the followings are banned, namely: (a) goods of Indian or Israeli origin or imported from India or Israel:

Provided that the provisions of this clause to the extent of India shall not apply to therapeutic products regulated by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP).

(b) import of live animals, i.e. cattle, buffalo, sheep and goats and meat & bone meal (MBM) and feed ingredients of animal origin are banned from countries classified by the World Organization of Animal Health (OIE) in the latest edition of Terrestrial Animal Health Code as Controlled Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Risk and Undetermined BSE Risk.

 (c) counterfeit products; and

(d) import of all rough diamonds from Cote d’lvoire.”