Business

Boosting ties: Pakistan-India to open new trade post

Wagah to be used solely for parades and exit and entry of delegations.

Asad Kharal June 28, 2011

LAHORE:

Pakistan and India on Monday decided to open up another trade point at the Wagah border, to boost trade ties between the two neighbouring countries.

The decision was taken at a meeting held at Wagah border between officials of Pakistan and India. The new point will help facilitate trade and the passage of freedom busses, officials told The Express Tribune.

The agreement was formalised under the supervision of Pakistan’s joint secretary Shabbir Ahmed and Indian joint secretary K K Mather.

The decision comes after two days of secretary-level talks between the two countries ended on Friday.

The nine-member Indian delegation was headed by joint secretary K K Mather and his Pakistani counterpart joint secretary Chaudhry Shabbir Ahmed.

It was stated in the meeting that the new trade route was being opened because trade at Wagah was affected by parades and other reasons.

With the establishment of the new trade route, the current Wagah border post would solely be used for parades and the entry and exit of delegations.

The next meeting is scheduled to be held on July 23, FIA Assistant Director Chaudhry Zafar Ahmed told The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28^th, 2011.

COMMENTS (32)

Jaa-go | 12 years ago | Reply It will be foolish, absolutely ignorant to believe that India wants Pakistan to prosper, especially in business and trade. The proof is in the pudding. . . .wakeup - India blocked Pakistan from getting an approval from EU for Pakistan to receive a favoured Nations status for exports of Pakistani products. If this is not enough proof, then God only can help the blind and mindless. Opening of border (especially roads and bus routes) for trade with India will be a foolish step in view of so much chaos and killings within Pakistan's borders. Pakistan needs to concentrate on its own security and priorities in order to be a properous and healthy nation and not get diverted.

Phajja | 12 years ago | Reply @Hafeez: ( Please reveal your RSS Terrorist ID. Don't Hide behind Muslim names. Thank you. Your Correction request not accepted. Your Indian State terrorist Status remain as "International Terrorist State" I SE ASIA. Therefore, No Business dealings with Terrorists India. Tamil ELAM Tigers' funding, arming, and launching them as a terrorist group in SRI LANKA that resulted in 30 Years long war is the Prime Example taken into account to reject the Suggested"CORRECTION".

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Daysee | 12 years ago | Reply @mhad Good question. Why would India want trade with Pakistan . . . hmmm. So India can have more routes and passages to sneak terrorist handlers into Pakistan. Pakistan needs to clean up its own house effectively first before inviting adversary suspicious entities more opportunities within its borders. How can Pakistan be so Naive?

antony | 12 years ago | Reply @ramanan , I agree with you as a fellow south indian . IF any pakistanis know what south indians think ( that is a population equal to Pakistan) we dont want anything to do with Pakistan just a wall like great wall of china in LOC and nothing more.. We are not fed with any conflict on a day to day life and we are all rushing to make each one's life better and watch local films and relax in life. What I see an average pakistani life is full of day to day conflict and a feeling of hate,victimhood,denial ,frustration and anger. We in south india have anger only against our babus and politicians for their corruption . So just have a mental assessment whether pakistan's right wing dream of touching indian kashmir by harping on army atrocity will help anything ? except high blood pressure and one more jihadi being raised. time and again north indians have extended hand of friendship through boosting trade and cultural exchanges (as both have very similar culture due to mughal empires ) which were rejected by pakistan saying "nothing but kashmir until we die" attitude.. I am raising these points just to have a real indian view for your consideration .

Safir afkhan. | 12 years ago | Reply shadi after devorce.

Arslan | 12 years ago | Reply @ramanan: - We won't disintegrate - We will be a stable country, don't worry, just wait the post-WoT period - We won't be "friends" with North Indians, South Indians, Central Indians or whatever Indians. - Economic partners don't equate to friends. - Cheers.

mhad | 12 years ago | Reply Hi, In oxford dictionary the meaning of pakistan changed to Terrorist, so y india want trade with pak.

TightChuddi | 12 years ago | Reply Pakistan does not India or any trade with India, Pakistan has become a superpower without any help

sundar | 12 years ago | Reply @Frank: I can't believe your attitude buddy. Is it hatred or immaturity that misinterpret extending the hand of friendship to 'practically beg Pakistanis for ‘friendship’ Cordial relationship helps people living on both sides of the border. Whether this friendship is going to materialize or not Indian economy is going to expand at a healthy rate. India has a long way to go to lift billions out of poverty. Good news is India working towards it. Are you?

ramanan | 12 years ago | Reply Only some sentimental north indians have this fixation about peace and friendship with Pakistan. As a South Indian, I just want Pakistan not to disintegrate and the hordes start their way back into India. Otherwise, we do not need your friendship nor trade. We have enough problems to solve ourselves. My reading is Pakistan will not be and cannot be made a stable and a viable country and you should do what you do when you encounter a mad dog. Just keep out of its way.

Ali | 12 years ago | Reply trade is the only way to ensure peace, when both sides have a vested interest in peace. trade needs to open up more quickly, also stock market trade and allowing Indians easy investment opps into Pakistan. This will also keep the Chinese hoshiar and not to think of us as their satrapy!

Bhola | 12 years ago | Reply @ vasan It seems Pakistan's 'strategic depth' has resonated well within Indian establishment, and now they are seeking one in Afghanistan; While Pakistan has moved on and cooperating with it Indian partners in its mission to cleanse India of all the corrupt politico-corporate mafia who pride in exploiting the poor masses .... A liberated India will be a balancing force internationally carving its own niche while living in peaceful co-existence with its neighbors! We don't want an India who kill 16 million girls in mass infanticide and whose 85% population lives in poverty... enough is enough...time to change!

Frank | 12 years ago | Reply RSJohar

Friendship with India will solve fifty percent of Pakistan’s problems but the remaining half which is internal and of grave nature needs to be addressed on top-most priority before it is too late

Friendship will solve so many of Pakistan's problems and none of the mighty Indian superpower's problems, so it's strange then that it's only Indians on these net message boards that practically beg Pakistanis for 'friendship'.

Naveeda Shaikh | 12 years ago | Reply Nothing can better relationship between Pakistan and India. We have seen consequences. There have been There have been wars between the countries. However, if I want to give it a positive side, I will but it will be like expecting tea to be sweet when we know we have poured salt in it. I hope after this trade route relationship will have been better between these two countries.

R S JOHAR | 12 years ago | Reply Friendship with India will solve fifty percent of Pakistan's problems but the remaining half which is internal and of grave nature needs to be addressed on top-most priority before it is too late.

Paras Vikmani | 12 years ago | Reply Its a good decision I feel.

anil | 12 years ago | Reply new trade posts should be built in Gujurat ,rajstan borders as those border areas are highly undeveloped and arid areas.To make kuch and thar vibrant and prosperous,this should be done provided pak also improves its economic conditions.

vasan | 12 years ago | Reply Bhola : First come out of the "Strategic depth" into which you have fallen in Afganistan. Then u can dream of becoming the President of Pak/Af/India combined.

Pragmatist | 12 years ago | Reply @Mo: Stranger things have happened. I wouldn't put the "cement bag" idea beyond the realm of possibility.

Bhola | 12 years ago | Reply Another milestone achieved to gain 'strategic depth' in India... linking up with all freedom fighters Maoists, Naxals, Sikhs, Tamils etc to establish a free, just and corrupt free society in India.... just as Mahatama wanted With India liberated, Pakistan and Afghanistan will be the most peaceful countries in the world :-)

Dr. Mohammad Azmi | 12 years ago | Reply @Mawali: I know. Its another way of saying we dont have anything to offer, kindly take a hike. Go trade with the US, China and Germany. We can only offer terrorists and dimwits. I hope some sense creeps into the thick heads of these creeps. Dr. Mohammad Azmi Nuremberg, Germany

Hafeez | 12 years ago | Reply @Manna: A small correction. "Stop this trade. We don’t want any trade with Terrorist Pakistan. Put stop to everything for now."

Irshad Khan | 12 years ago | Reply Visa free travels are to be allowed to senior citizens on either side, particularly to those who were born on the other side of the border. For some of them that might be the last chance to see places where they were born and for which they had long cherished wish in their hearts. This is very sensitive and touchy human issue and should be considered immediately before it is too late as very few are left alive.

Frank | 12 years ago | Reply What purpose does this serve? We can never normalize relations with India until it gives up its hegemonic ambitions, and you won't see that day in ten life times.

Mo | 12 years ago | Reply @Saywhat: do you now how trade is done ? free flow of trade does not mean you can smuggle a sucide bomber to india by hiding him in a bag of cement . jeez the level of ignorance amongst indians is so high.we dont want trade with india anyway

Saywhat | 12 years ago | Reply Until Pakistan can provide security within its own borders, it does not make any sense opening its borders for free flow of business with India - this should be the very last item on the agenda.

Arslan | 12 years ago | Reply @Saibal: Great comment, and completely agree as a member of Pakistan's youth!

Manna | 12 years ago | Reply Stop this trade. We don't want any trade with Terrorist India. Put stop to everything for now.

Mawali | 12 years ago | Reply The only business Pakistani's need to be doing is to get their house in order. India should be the last on the to-do-list.

G. Din | 12 years ago | Reply Has anyone contacted Kuldip Nayyar? Wagah is his favourite haunt!

John | 12 years ago | Reply Yawn.. For how many days....

Saibal | 12 years ago | Reply Another one bites the dust. As an Indian I feel we should talk to Pakistan to just establish some notion of peace and get on with our lives. Among today's Indian youth Pakistan is a foreign, alien land and hopefully vice versa for the Pakistanis. Any rational person can see that there is little chance of anything else (friendship, trust, blah blah). Our governments should wake up from their stupor and just work on this.

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