Integrated Checkpost Functional at Attari-Wagah Border

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Integrated Checkpost Functional at Attari-Wagah Border​

The much-awaited Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari and Wagah border today became functional with the shifting of passenger terminal to the newly built post.

Deputy Commissioner Indian Customs at Attari border R K Duggal said from tomorrow entire cargo traffic would also be shifted to newly built ICP so that by April 13 it becomes fully functional.

Duggal said because of Sunday there was no movements of trucks today.

Movement of trucks carrying trade goods would in full swing from tomorrow for which all necessary arrangements have been made with the deployment of mandatory staff and necessary infrastructures.

These steps would boost import exports of vegetables, livestock and yarn between the two nations, said Duggal.

The ICP is scheduled to be inaugurated by Home Minister P Chidambaram on April 13.

The ICP is being set up at Attari for which the Centre has spent a sum of Rs 120 crore.
FILED ON: APR 08, 2012

Integrated Checkpost Functional at Attari-Wagah Border | news.outlookindia.com

 

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The Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari is scheduled to become operational for trade across the India-Pakistan border on the Punjabi New Year's Day, Baisakhi, on April 13.

At present, about 200 trucks cross the border daily with restricted merchandise that accounts for about Rs. 1,500 crore of annual business. A study released by the Assocham said that with the ICP becoming operational and Pakistan granting the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India, the annual bilateral trade between the two countries would increase from $2.6 billion to $8 billion within the next two years.

More in the offing

Though India and Pakistan had decided to set up 13 such facilities, the Attari ICP will be the first to become operational. Located about 30 km from Amritsar, it has been set up on an area of 130 acres at an overall cost of Rs. 120 crore. It will house state-of-the-art facilities to deal with security, customs and immigrations requirements for passenger and cargo traffic through rail and road.

The Attari ICP is located on the international border along the historic GT road that was reconstructed in the 16th century by the Afghan ruler, Sher Shah Suri, to connect Bengal with Peshawar. Since the Radcliffe line was drawn in 1947, this route has hardly been used for commerce and trade.

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, captains of trade and industry, and a host of dignitaries are expected to reach Attari for the inauguration. Simultaneously, on Pakistan's side, Commerce Minister and Chief Minister of West Punjab, will inaugurate its ICP at Wagah.

Change economic profile

Punjab's Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal reiterated that the Union government should also open up Fazilka and Hussainewala borders in Ferozepur district with Pakistan, which he said, would change the economic profile of the border region.

Mr. Badal said the business community of Punjab had pinned a lot of hopes on Attari-Wagah becoming the gateway for trade with Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asian countries. However, the information that only 137 items would be allowed has come as a dampener. He recalled that Punjab, especially the border areas of the State, had suffered owing to lack of commercial activity along this border since 1947.

Negative list

The Chairman of the Punjab Committee of the PHD Chamber, Rajiv Bali, favoured a more relaxed visa policy, which should remove “one of the biggest impediments” in the progress of bilateral ties. He said that last month Pakistan notified its negative list, which meant that, barring 1,209 items, India could export all products. Subsequently, Islamabad announced that it would allow import of only 137 items.

However, an Assocham release, quoting its president Rajkumar Dhoot, said Pakistan had committed to bury the negative list by the year-end to comply with WTO stipulations.

He said that nearly 6,000 items could then be exported to Pakistan against the existing less than 2,000.

 

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New checkpost at Indo-Pak border to facilitate trade - The Times of India


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.