Truck service between India, Pakistan starts from Wagah

Trade between India and Pakistan achieved a milestone with the start of truck service between the two countries today. The service was marked by Indian trucks with tomatoes crossing the Attari border (the Indian side) into Pakistan.

It is for the first time in the history of the two countries that they have allowed cross-border movement of trucks through the international Attari check-post to facilitate trade.

Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal who flagged off the truck described it as "a momentous occasion of unimaginable attitude".

The chief minister expressed confidence that with the opening of Attari border for trade, there would be a spurt in the economic activity between the Indian and Pakistan Punjab, resulting in huge revenue and employment generation.

He said that the Punjab government would press the Centre for replicating the effort at the Hussainiwala and Khemkarn borders also. He said there was a tremendous scope to increase trade from the few designated items.

The trade could be increased many folds in various items, including sport goods, light engineering hand tool, machine tools, hosiery and processed food products from Punjab, and fine staples cotton import from Pakistan, which has assured demand in the Indian market.

He also said that the agricultural economy of both countries would get a major boost with the opening of trade through this border because of better and remunerative prices for the produce through cost-effective transportation resulting in profit maximisation to the advantage of both the countries.

He also said the Punjab government had earmarked 120 acres for integrated check-post, which would be built over a cost of Rs 300 crore, besides four-laning of Attari road.

Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal said there is a need to extend the dedicated freight corridor and expressway from New Delhi to Amritsar for improving trade.