Indo- Pak trade at Wagah border hots up.

Amritsar, May 22 (TruthDive): The Wagah border was till recently a place which tourists from India and Pakistan visited. Just 30 km from here the place witnessed very little business activity. Both countries had clamped strict trade barriers and even harsher visa norms. All that has changed and today there is hectic activity of trucks from both sides plying with goods.

When the two countries home ministers inaugurated the 48 hectare new Integrated Check Post right at the border crossing they did not probably expect that things would move at a quick pace and in the long run even impact the South Asian trade. Pak had allowed only 14 items to be traded with India and today it is 5000 items. As of now only 137 items take this route while others come by sea. Traders are hopeful that sooner all items will flow through road since it is cheaper and quicker than sea route.

With only 14 items the export figures to Pakistan through Wagah was Rs 798 crore in 2009-10, Rs 1,171 crore in 2010-11 and Rs 1,376 crore in 2011-12; imports were Rs 396 crore, Rs 453 crore and Rs 965 crore, respectively. With ease in visa and more items the figures would be mind boggling.

According to Pakistan Commerce Ministry Total exports to India between July-September, 2011, stood at $73.871 million. (Unlike India whose FY starts in April to March, Pakistan’s financial year commences from July 1.) Construction materials, including cement accounted for the major rise in exports to India, which rose from $5.717 million to $10.850 million, a growth of 89.9%.

Next in demand from India were fruits and fruit based preparations, which increased from $19.076 million to $22.425 million dollars, recording a growth of 17.6%. Third was cotton yarn during the same period increased by 149.2%, growing from $2.112 million dollars to $5.264 million dollars. Medical and surgical instruments imported by India increased from $1.217 million to $1.725 million. The previous year 2010-2011 Pakistan exports to India were $71.825 million.

Source : truthdive.com