To enhance trade between India and Pakistan, the exporters and Importers would be holding a meeting with the high-level official delegation at Integrated Check Post (ICP) tomorrow.
The Indian foreign trade office was seeking the proposals and suggestions from the traders for the early development of much-needed infrastructure at the ICP on both sides of Pakistan and India.
According to available information, the Joint Director General of foreign trade would be heading the meeting. To facilitate businessmen on both sides, India and Pakistan have set up ICP's at their respective sides. However, there are still some hiccups to improve the flow of trade.
India has spent around Rs. 160 crore to construct the ICP in about 130 acres of land where as Pakistan has yet to come up with the same strength of infrastructure. This as well as other issues will be taken up in tomorrow's meeting to ease the trade route between the two countries.
Suneet Kochhar, Director Khanna Paper Mill, underlined the need for proper infrastructure for smooth functioning of trade. Traders feel that container trade will help in the faster movement of goods directly from origin to destination. Kochhar said: "We have suggested that the government should set up a dry port near the ICP and scanners should be installed at ICP for the movement of the trade through the sealed containers."
Visa is another hindrance for the businessmen of both the countries. Though the government has claimed that Punjab is so far in the "disturbed area" list, the
Pakistani traders, however, pointed out that it was always difficult for them to get the business visa to visit the Punjab. The traders of both sides have asked for easing visa reforms and restrictions for the businessmen of both the countries.
Indo-Pak traders opine that trade requires more specialized logistic services between the two countries. Gunbir Singh, former CII state head, said that rail track between Amritsar and Lahore should be strengthened by adding one more railway line and it should be linked with ICP.
"Extending of freight corridor up to Attari would be another turning point to enhance trade through ICP with Pakistan", said Gunbir.
There has been a demand for opening Indian and Pakistani bank branches on both sides. Traders while expressing their views says that Pakistan should allow more items from its negative list through land route. It is pertinent to mention that India has granted Most Favored Nation (MFN) status to Pakistan. However, Pakistan has yet to grant same status to India.
"A trade facilitation policy between India and Pakistan should be put together after considering ground realties and taking suggestion and proposals from those who have been in this trade," said B.K. Bajaj, President Indo-Pak Chambers of Commerce.
Echoing the demand of container movement through land route, Bajaj said that India and Pakistan should move forward by setting up International Container Depot at the border to take the trade up to central Asia.
