Peace park on the Indo-Pak border

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today announced setting up a peace park at the Wagah-Atari border on a 2 sq km area, around both sides of the Indo-Pak border.

He said he would take up the issue of opening a visa centre at Amritsar with the Centre to facilitate the movement of people across the border, because the present procedure was cumbersome and inconvenient.

Delivering his presidential address on the "Punjab-Punjab Consultation" jointly organised by South Asian Free Media Association (Safma), and the Press Club of Chandigarh, the chief minister said both Punjabs had contributed in their own ways towards the consolidation of confidence building measures initiated by the national governments of these countries.

"I will take up the matter with the government of India to set up a peace park, and will suggest the visiting delegation from Pakistan to impress upon Pervaiz Elahi to discuss this matter with the Pakistani prime minister to seek approaval for the project," said Singh.

Realising the tremendous trade potential in the region, Singh mentioned that indirect trade worth $2 billion was carried out every year between India and Pakistan. If regularised, it had a potential to increase by four times.

"The simple principle to be followed is, whatever you have we buy, and whatever we have, you buy from us. For instance, Pakistan imports foodgrains worth 25-30 lakh tonnes every year, and we being surplus in foodgrains can supply them at much lower prices. We, in India, import cotton and Pakistan exports cotton. India can buy cotton. Both countries can acquire a competitive edge in the new globalised world by entering into trade with each other", said Singh.