Indo-pak ceasefire accord brings ray of hope for resumption of trade via Wagah-attari border
AMRITSAR : The agreement reached by India and Pakistan to observe ceasefire along the Line of Control (LOC) has brought a ray of hope for resumption of trade between the two countries via the Wagah-attari border.
Indian traders say they appreciate the decision to make concerted efforts to ease the strained Indo-pakistan ties. Also, hundreds of truckers and porters working at the integrated check post (ICP), Attari, which facilitates India’s trade with Pakistan and Afghanistan, have demanded an early resumption of trade.
They said they were now hopeful not only about the resumption of the trade, but also the restoration of transportation services between both the countries via the Attari-wagah border from the next month.
Nearly 1,500 truckers, their drivers, cleaners, and as many
porters and their helpers have been struggling to make their ends meet for the last two years.
Pakistan had stopped trade with India in August 2019 after New Delhi abrogated Article 370, which gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Besides, the Pakistan government had also suspended services of Samjhauta Express train and various buses
that operated through the land border.
Since then, the travellers have been crossing the border by foot though the ICP.
Prior to that, India had imposed 200% custom duty on the goods being imported from Pakistan in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed.
Before this, there had been only 5 per cent duty on Pakistani goods.
“Till August 2019, the ICP witnessed an annual trade of around Rs 4,000 crore with Pakistan. We are hopeful of the resumption of trade by in March. I talked to my Pakistani counterpart yesterday. He informed me that Pakistani traders are also hopeful about the resumption of the trade. We appeal to the Centre to lift 200% duty on Pakistani goods once the trade opens,” said Anil Mehra, president, Federation of the Karyana and Dry Fruits’ Association.
Amarjit Singh Shinda, manager of the Attari Truck Union, said, “More than 500 truckers have already sold their trucks. Some have migrated to other states in search of jobs. With the opening of trade, India’s import to Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Russia and Turkmenistan will also be opened.”
Currently, Pakistan is only allowing Afghanistan to export goods to India through the ICP. Nearly 25 trucks arrive from Afghanistan daily against 200 trucks that came from the two countries before the Pulwama terror attack, a Land Port Authority of India (LPAI) official posted at the ICP said.
Pakistani traders are also hopeful about the resumption of the trade. We appeal to the Centre to lift 200% duty on Pakistani goods once trade resumes ANIL MEHRA, president, Federation of Karyana and Dry Fruits’ Association