Pak traders blame Indian authorities' 'harassment' for huge losses during IITF

Islamabad, Nov.28 (ANI): Pakistani traders have accused Indian authorities of harassing them leading to them suffering huge losses in the just concluded India International Trade Fair at New Delhi.

They blamed the Indian intelligence agencies and customs authorities of deliberately creating hurdles for Pakistani traders, which affected their business to a great extent.

"The Indian authorities had made arrangements for clearance of goods at Pragati Maidan after shipment, but the authorities had no electronic devices to inspect marble products, therefore each piece was inspected manually, causing the maximum possible delay in their clearance for exhibition," said Mazhar Mufti, representative of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Mufti said Pakistani traders were not provided proper storage for their goods, and were issued only a limited number of gate passes.

He said Pakistani food products, handicrafts and marble products attracted huge crowds during the trade fair, but even the Indians were disappointed as they were not able to buy those things due to non-availability.

"The treatment meted out to Pakistani traders was unfortunate and they would leave Indian soil with great disappointment," The Daily Times quoted Mufti, as saying. (ANI)