In a strong and coordinated response to the recent killing of civilians in Pahalgam, Indian traders have cancelled all major import orders from Pakistan, dealing a serious blow to its trade-dependent economy.
The Indian government’s directive to halt imports from Pakistan has had an immediate impact, particularly in key trading hubs of Uttar Pradesh. Supplies of essential commodities such as Lahori rock salt, dried dates, black raisins, and sabja seeds have already been disrupted in the state.
This move, widely supported by trade associations, marks a decisive shift in priorities—national interest taking precedence over commercial profit. Indian importers were bringing in dry fruits, spices, and chemicals worth an estimated $500 million annually, often routed through intermediary nations such as the UAE, Singapore, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka.
“India’s direct imports from Pakistan were already negligible—barely $0.5 million annually—and now they will fall to zero,” said Ajay Srivastava, founder of the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI). “No one in India will miss much, except perhaps Himalayan pink salt, or Sendha Namak, which is sourced from Pakistani salt deposits.”
Sendha Namak holds cultural and culinary significance in India, particularly during religious fasts, rituals, and in Ayurvedic medicine. India imports around 3,500 to 4,000 tonnes of this salt annually, with Pakistan supplying about 99% of it in 2018–19.
Ashok Lalwani, Secretary of the Chamber of Food Processing Industries Association, confirmed the swift response by Indian traders. “Within hours of the government’s decision, import orders were cancelled. We were importing around 250 to 300 tonnes of Sendha Namak monthly, alongside 550 to 600 tonnes of dried dates and 15 tonnes of items like sabja seeds, pistachios, and black raisins. All these came primarily from Pakistan. Every major order has now been scrapped.”
“These imports were vital for our dry fruit and spice trade,” Lalwani added. “But after the Pahalgam killings, we cannot continue business as usual. We fully support the government’s stand and have advised our members to stop placing new orders.”
Pawandeep Kapoor, a member of the Agra Kirana Colour and Chemical Committee, highlighted the broader economic fallout for Pakistan. “Agra has around 30 large dry fruit wholesalers, and all are impacted. Items like Munakka and figs, earlier routed through Pakistan from Afghanistan, are now being sourced through alternative suppliers—even if that means higher costs.”
Dry fruits all across UP are routed through Agra.
“But national sentiment outweighs profit,” Kapoor stressed. “Trade cannot flourish at the cost of innocent lives. Pakistan has lost a critical market, and the economic loss on their end will be significant.”
The ripple effects may also hit the textile sector. T.N. Agrawal, President of Agra Vyapar Mandal, pointed out that Pakistan exported raw cotton to India, which was used in garments like shirts, undergarments, dhotis, and women's wear. “With rising domestic demand and strained ties with Bangladesh, we may see an increase in cotton garment prices in the near future,” he warned.
Rajiv Gupta, Secretary of Agra Vyapar Mandal, acknowledged that the Indian market may witness short-term price hikes, but said the long-term economic damage to Pakistan would be far worse. “India has options. We can shift to other suppliers. But for Pakistan, India was a key customer. This ban will hurt their fragile economy more than it affects us.”
Where will Sendha Namak come from now?
With imports from Pakistan halted, India now faces the challenge of sourcing this essential rock salt. Alternatives include countries like Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey, and Australia—all of which produce high-quality rock salt, albeit at a higher cost.
Domestically, India has untapped deposits in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Himachal Pradesh. With adequate government support and investment, these reserves could be developed to meet national demand—but that will take time.
What will be the impact?
A temporary rise in rock salt prices is likely, but analysts believe it can be controlled with long-term planning and diversified sourcing. Collaboration between government and industry will be key to ensuring consumer needs are met without major disruption.
“This boycott is not just economic—it is symbolic,” said Dr. Rakesh Maheshwari, an independent trade analyst based in Delhi. “It sends a clear message that India will not tolerate cross-border violence. Every act of terror will carry economic consequences.”
“India’s diversified import network allows it to adapt quickly. But Pakistan’s narrow export base makes it extremely vulnerable. The impact on its economy will be significant,” he added.
As traders across India recalibrate their supply chains and prepare for short-term price adjustments, there is broad consensus within the business community: safeguarding national security comes before any commercial interest.
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