Pakistan does not have diplomatic or trade relations with Israel: FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch

ISLAMABAD, April 02 (SABAH): Amid reports of an exchange of goods between Pakistan and Israel, the Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch and Ministry of Trade and Commerce denied on Sunday having made any trade with the middle-eastern nation. 

The American Jewish Congress (AJC) had claimed that a bilateral trade occurred with the offloading of the first shipment carrying Pakistani-originated food products in Israel.

Issuing a clarification over the purported trade, FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch told a private TV channel that Pakistan does not have diplomatic or trade relations with Israel. “There is no change in the policy,” she stressed. She said that there is no intension of starting trade relations with Israel, adding that the rumors of starting Pakistan-Israel trade are only propaganda.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that the press release of AJC has been wrongly attributed, adding that there is no mention of Pakistan-Israel trade relations in the press release.

Meanwhile Spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce said that the AJC’s press release was wrongly attributed as it does not make any mention of Pakistan’s official trade relations with Israel.

“Rumours about beginning of Pakistan-Israel trade are pure propaganda. We neither have nor do we intend to start trade relations with Israel,” the spokesperson said.

Earlier, Commerce and Trade Secretary Sualeh Ahmad Faruqui denied sending any export consignment to Israel, and “any claims suggesting otherwise are mere disinformation and politically motivated.” The customs officials at the Karachi Port also seconded the trade secretary’s statement.