Islamabad: Despite the ongoing tensions between Pakistan and India, bilateral trade continued to boom during the first six months of the current financial year compared to the corresponding period in 2001.

Pakistan officials said exports to India went up by 7.38 per cent and imports from New Delhi during the first half increased by 17.87 per cent.

Pakistan's total exports to India during the year 2000-01 stood at $ 55.397 million, whereas total imports from India during the same period stood at $ 235.86 million, daily 'Dawn' reported.

Quoting official documents, the report said Pakistan's total export to India during the first six months (July-Dec) of the current financial year stood at Rs 1, 802 billion against Rs 1, 678 billion during the same period in 2001.

Similarly, during December 2001 exports increased by 2.15 per cent to Rs 1, 014 billion from Rs 1, 037 billion during the same month in 2000.

On the other hand, imports from India surged by 17.87 per cent to Rs 6, 383 billion during July-Dec period of the current fiscal against Rs 5, 415 billion during the same period last fiscal.

However, imports from India slightly declined by 2.2 per cent to Rs 1,014 billion during December 2001, from Rs 1, 037 billion during the same month of 2000, the report said.

PTI