Trucks stranded at Wagah border due to tensions

Indian duty on Pakistani imports results in cancellation of orders

LAHORE: The ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan have disrupted trade with trucks carrying cement, salt and dry fruit returning from the Wagah Border. Over one hundred trucks are also stranded at the Grand Trunk (GT) Road hoping for restoration of trade ties.

In the aftermath of the Pulwama attack in Indian Occupied Kashmir, New Delhi imposed a 200 per cent duty on import of Pakistani products in a bid to pressurise its neighbour. This led to Indian traders cancelling their orders and refusing to buy cement, salt and dry fruits.

Due to the cancellation, trucks carrying trade items have been recalled but around 100 trucks carrying cement and salt are still standing at the GT Road.

According to one truck driver, Fazal Khan, who spoke to Daily Express, it had been seven days since he arrived at the transit point with hundreds of tonnes of cement loaded on his truck. He has been waiting in the hope that exporters may call him back with the cement.

Fazal said there are three people waiting at the GT Road who have run out of money for food.

He also pointed out the challenges of spending an entire week by a corner of the road in a vehicle, adding that they had no other options.

Another truck driver, Abdul Raheem, said he is responsible for three vehicles, of which one belongs to him and two others have been rented. He was concerned over rent which keeps increasing with every passing day. He is still hopeful that Indian traders will decide to import the cement.

Other truck drivers expressed similar concerns over suspension of trade activities. While acknowledging that it amounted to economic murder, the truck divers insisted that they were willing to make any sacrifice for the country.

They also called on Pakistan to ban the supply of salt to India in response to the latter’s move to stop supply of tomatoes. They maintained that Indians consume our salt but hurl allegations at us.



On the other hand, a trader who imports medical equipment from India said it is possible that Pakistan may follow suit by imposing import duty on Indian products in a tit-for-tat measure.

He said that it put a halt to Indian import and cause difficulties for traders across the border.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 24^th, 2019.