AMRITSAR: Reiterating his support to the opening of
Attari-Wagah
land border between India and Pakistan,
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president
Navjot Singh Sidhu on Saturday claimed that if the traditional Silk Route was opened, Punjab would have a meteoric rise in economic growth.
Talking to the media at Punjab International Trade Expo (PITEX) here,
Sidhu said if there could be a trade route between Mumbai-Karachi then why not from Punjab.
He said the opening of Attari-Wagah trade wouldn’t just benefit Punjab, but rest of India too since it would open gates to 34 countries to trade.
Sidhu gave an example of how European nations opened their borders on a single visa despite fighting against each other during the world wars. He said Indian goods could be sold in the neighbouring country, which is just 20 km from
Attari
, while the same goods were going to the same destination via Dubai.
Stating that he had heard about the installations of scanners at Integrated Check Post (ICP) in Attari in near future, he said he welcomed any step that helped promote trade. He said over 67,000 people had traveled to Kartarpur Sahib, but not a single untoward incident had happened. “I assure that the MSP on wheat and paddy would increase within days of the opening of the border with Pakistan and so would the prices of other vegetables,” he said, adding that 60 years of development would be achieved within six months of opening of trade via
Attari/Wagah
borders.
Politically speaking, Sidhu rubbished the announcement of Rs 1,000 for every woman in Punjab made by AAP. Stating that Punjabis were not beggars, he said these announcements were only deviating tactics by AAP to fleece voters ahead of elections.
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