Informal trade
An ICRIER study estimates that informal trade between India and Pakistan was close to US$4.71 billion in 2012-13, which is almost twice the value of formal trade between the two countries in that year. The major reason for informal trade between the two neighbouring countries is that Pakistan maintains a negative list comprising of 1,209 items that cannot be imported from India.
The main items India exported informally were jewellery (24 per cent), textiles (20 per cent), machinery and machine parts (8 per cent), electronic appliances (6 per cent), chemicals (5 per cent), paper (5 per cent) and tyres (5 per cent). India's informal imports from Pakistan mainly consisted of textiles (49 per cent), dried fruits (32 per cent), spices (10 per cent) and carpets (4 per cent).
The majority of India's informal exports to Pakistan are routed via a third country, most frequently Dubai.