In wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, the department of pharmaceuticals has sought pharmaceutical export data from Pharmexcil, an arm under the ministry of commerce and industry
Amid the growing strain on bilateral trade relations, the department of pharmaceuticals has requested the pharma export body to prepare a list of medicines and pharmaceutical products exported to Pakistan.
The move was triggered by the terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives. Accusing Pakistan of backing cross-border terrorism, India announced a raft of measures against its neighbour. Islamabad, however, has denied the allegations and retaliated with reciprocal steps against Delhi, including snapping trade ties.
The department of pharmaceuticals (DoP) under the ministry of chemicals and fertilisers has sought details from Pharmexcil – an arm that functions under the ministry of commerce and industry.
“We have asked for the export data to see what we are sending to Pakistan. Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) is working on it and will send details soon,” a senior government official told News18.
The DoP has requested the information on an “urgent” basis. According to Pharmexcil data, Pakistan is the 38th out of 219 countries in India’s pharmaceutical exports market. In the fiscal 2023, India exported $191.36 million followed by $176.54 million in the fiscal 2024. The latest data pegs trade at around $200 million.
“Dubai is a major business trading centre for Pakistan. While India exports medicines and pharma products to the UAE, in turn, Pakistan imports from these countries,” another government official told News18, while explaining the pharmaceutical trade relationship between India and Pakistan.
“The majority of Indian exports to Pakistan include active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). While it won’t impact India by snapping the pharma trade ties, it will impact Pakistan as it would import costlier drugs and APIs from the countries rerouting our medicines,” the official said.
Also known as bulk drugs, APIs are the therapeutic agents that give the main effect to the medicine. For instance, paracetamol is an API in the Crocin tablet.
News18 contacted Raja Bhanu, director general of Pharmexcil and secretary of the DoP, for comments. Repeated calls and text messages to him went unanswered.
It is not the first time the two countries have faced a strained bilateral relationship. Following the Balakot airstrikes and the abrogation of Article 370, former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had banned bilateral trade with India.