Very soon you may get to splurge on your favourite Pakistani couture clothes with designers and branded retailers from across the border looking at launching their exclusive outlets in India. With the governments of the two countries pushing for improving trade relations, retailers say it will open the gates for them to officially do businesses in India.
“We would definitely like to open up stores here. Our fabric is already being exported to stores in India. However, textile duties are still quite high and we would want them to come down soon,” says Mian Mansha, Pakistan’s first billionaire and head of the diversified Nishat Group, as he oversees his 10×10 feet stall in Pragati Maidan.
While a few retailers from Pakistan have been exporting their products to India via Dubai and Singapore , brand owners say they are hoping that the trade curbs are removed so that they can directly meet the demand for muslin, lawn, and bret dresses in India. “We need to study the law as there is need for some clarity still. India is an exciting market for us. Discussions between the two countries are at a crucial stage and we will move as soon as there is some decision on their part,” says Bashir Ali Mohammad , chairman of Gul Ahmed, one of the largest textiles group in Pakistan.
There are only a few like Sefam, a prominent fashion and furnishings brand in Pakistan that has a presence in India through a store in Delhi’s Greater Kailash . But the recent improvement in economic relations has given the retailer hope of expanding its presence. “We are definitely looking at coming up with couple of stores in India in the next one year if trade norms permit us. Besides , we are working on plans to open close to 200 stores in the next five years,” said Zain Aziz, head of international business, Sefam.