The suspension of trade between Pakistan and India through the Attari-Wagah border posts has begun to hurt Indian traders.
Trade through the Attari land route was halted on Monday immediately after the suicide bomb attack at the Wagah border left over 50 dead. Authorities announced it would remain suspended until Wednesday.
A meeting between Indian and Pakistani Customs authorities will decide the future course of action.
Currently, India is exporting perishable commodities – mainly vegetables like tomato, potato, ginger etc – besides soya meal to Pakistan. Additionally Indian traders are importing cement, gypsum, dryfruits, rock salt, etc.
Meanwhile, traders lamented that it was their business that suffered due to the suspension. All perishable commodities had to be transported back from the border after the attack, causing them huge losses.
Currently, Pakistan allows import of only 137 items through Attari despite it being the cheapest and shortest route. Although imports have grown recently, the balance of trade is still in India’s favour
The volume of Indo-Pak trade through Attari has also witnessed a significant increase through the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari border, which was inaugurated on April 13, 2012 to facilitate trade between India and Pakistan.
According to a study released by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India, the opening up of the integrated check post at Attari-Wagah border and Pakistan granting the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India can increase bilateral trade to $8 billion a year.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 6th, 2014.
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