The Federal Cabinet has deferred the proposal of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) to resume cotton and sugar trade with India, according to local media reports.
The Cabinet did not approve the summary of the ECC that had approved the import of cotton and sugar from India on Wednesday. The ECC had taken this decision under the chairmanship of the new Finance Minister, Hammad Azhar, who had also publicly defended the need to resume trade relations with India on account of acute cotton shortage in Pakistan.
However, during the meeting of the Cabinet, some members objected to the ECC proposal. The Cabinet, after a debate on the issue, rejected the summary.
The cabinet was also given a briefing on the third wave of Covid-19 and the measures taken to contain it. Expressing concern over rising cases, the prime minister called for the strict enforcement of the SOPs.
Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed spoke to the media after the meeting, saying “We have deferred the proposal over trade with India until Article 370 is restored” Article 370 of the Indian constitution gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, conferring it with the power to have a separate constitution. This article was revoked by the Indian government on 5 August 2019.
This is a developing story.
Very good decision. Respect for our PM had grown manifolds. Long live Pakistan.