Lahore, Feb. 18 : Notwithstanding the recent tension between India and Pakistan, trade through the Wagah was on an upswing between July 2008 and January 2009 as Pakistan imported goods worth 31 million dollars from India during this period.

Last year, the import of goods was worth 20 million dollars in the same period.

Pakistan mainly imports fruits and vegetables through the Wagah border such as tomatoes, potatoes, onions, garlic, cotton, maize, and meat products.

According to data published in The News, Pakistan imported about six million dollars worth of tomatoes (31,354 tonnes). Besides that, 322 tonnes of meat, 88,485 tonnes of potatoes, 6,997 tonnes of cotton and 1,745 tonnes of maize were also imported.

In the last fiscal, tomato import totaled 110,038 tonnes, onion 12,651 tonnes, meat 4,570 tonnes, potato 1,243 tonnes, cotton 1,921 tonnes, maize 7,100 tonnes.

Pakistan does not export any goods to India due to non-tariff barriers imposed by New Delhi.

Pakistani traders earn a handsome profit in the season when there is scarcity of vegetables, by selling imported Indian vegetables.

"Pakistani traders import some seasonal vegetables through India when these are scarce as they get good price during scarcity," the newspaper quoted a Pakistani trader, Imran, as saying. (ANI)