Pak won't extend transit route up to Wagah

Pakistan today said there was no proposal at present to extend the transit facility from Karachi and Port Kasim to the Wagah land route.

It has also ruled out the possibility of making Attari and Wagah permanent land routes for trade on grounds that such a move required construction of adequate infrastructure, which was non-existent at present.

"There is no change in our present position to allow transit only through the Karachi and Kasim Port. Extending this facility to Wagah would require us to step up infrastructure in Customs clearances," Pakistan Commerce Secretary Syed Asif Shah told Business Standard here.

Shah said both sides recognised that it was in their mutual interest to gradually open up trade. He pointed out that Pakistan had made a request to allow import of buffaloes from India.

"The Indian side, however, pointed out that it was keen to export only processed meat as the value addition fetches better returns for the domestic industry," Shah said.

On the issue of diesel imports from India Shah said, "We do not have the mandate to take this decision. Your petroleum minister recently visited Pakistan and discussed the issue with the concerned officials."