New checkpost at Indo-Pak border to facilitate trade

ATTARI: The inauguration of Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari on the occasion of Baisakhi on Friday turned into an international commitment for progress as leaders of both India and Pakistan showed keenness to remove hurdles in the way of trade. Commerce minister Anand Sharma asked his Pakistani counterpart to put on list around 5,000 tradable items to be taken through land route instead of just 137 allowed currently. The grand opening was conducted in the presence of dignitaries, businessmen and media persons from both the countries at the border. Confirming TOI’s story of allowing kids and elderly visa on arrival, home minister P Chidambaram indicated that a new and liberal visa regime was going to be implemented once the Pakistan Cabinet approves certain measures which India has already approved.Without going into the specifics, Chidambaram made it clear that the new visa regime will be very liberal to children, elderly, business and spouses. Chidambaram also said legislators of both the countries will have an easier visa regime. The demand was made by Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal. Pakistan’s commerce minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim said the experiment of the one year visa of multiple entry to 10 cities to businessmen could be extended forever if the yearly experiment was successful. Pakistani Punjab’s chief minister Shahbaz Sharif spoke about opening trade from the Hussainiwala border in Ferozepur and offering land-lock north-west India an access to Karachi port. Karachi port is the closest to northwest India, less than Mumbai and Kandla. He also supported his counterpart Badal’s demand of opening the Hussainiwala border for trade and visits of the people. Sharif also proposed to set up free economic zones exclusively for India and Pakistan businesses. He, however, said water issues and Kashmir need to be discussed. Younger brother of the former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz, proposed kabaddi and kushti tournaments in the two countries. He also discussed this issue separately with Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal.Badal raised the issue of Pakistan not allowing Indian trucks going to Afghanistan but those coming from Afghanistan are allowed in India. Badal urged the Union government to consider most of items being traded through land saying even the list of 137 comes down to just 47 items when fruits, vegetables and meats are taken as three groups.