Majority of Pakistan Nationals Support Trade with India: Survey

ISLAMABAD: A majority of Pakistanis think their country should trade with India while almost a third are opposed to business ties with the neighboring country, according to a poll.

 The survey, conducted by Gallup Pakistan on behalf of the Jang media group, covered over 2,600 men and women across the country.

Sixty-seven percent of Pakistanis think their country should trade with India. Only 29 percent of people were opposed to the idea of trade with India and another four percent either did not answer or said they did not know whether Pakistan should trade with India.

According to the poll, 45 percent of Pakistanis believe increased trade between the two countries will have a positive impact on bilateral relations while 21 percent think it will have a negative impact.

Twenty-five percent thought improved trade would not affect the state of relations between the two countries, and another nine percent either did not answer or said they did not know.

In a bid to understand the factors perceived as game-changers, the people surveyed were presented a set of options, including trade, and asked to rate how important they thought each factor would be in improving relations between India and Pakistan.

An overwhelming 82 percent voted in favor of trade, saying they considered the revival of trade instrumental in improving relations. Twenty-six percent considered it "very important" and 36 percent said it was "important".

Just five percent said it was "unimportant" and 13 percent either said they did not know or did not respond. Thirty-four percent of respondents thought the revival of Pakistan-India cricketing ties is "very important" in improving relations while 37 percent considered it "important".

An additional 16 percent thought matches are "somewhat important" and only three percent considered them "unimportant".