Traders expects Indo-Pak trade to grow by 10 times due to ICP.

The Integrated Check Post (ICP) to be opened on Friday at Attari Wagah border would push up the trade between India and Pakistan through the land route by at least 10 times, Punjab-based exporters said on Thursday.

"It (ICP) is a historic step and it is going to expand the trade volume between India and Pakistan by 10 times of what it is at present," Indo-Pak Exporters Association President O.P. Arora said.

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram will inaugurate ICP on Friday.

Attari-Wagah land route is a famous import-export route between Pakistan and India and traders of both countries use land and rail route for carrying out bilateral trade.

India now exports vegetables, frozen meat, soybean extraction, cotton yarn among other items and imports dry fruit from Pakistan through land route.

The total volume of trade is about Rs.2,200 crore between the two nations, including imports of Rs.700 crore from Pakistan.

Spread over an area of 120 acres of land, the ICP has been set up at an estimated cost of Rs.150 crore. It boosts of dedicated terminals for cargo which will allow smooth movement of traffic between India and Pakistan.

At present, there is only one gate for trade and movement of passengers creating hindrance in the expansion of trade and leading to inadequate parking.

Also, trucks carrying goods for exports used to get stuck for several days, causing damage to perishable items, exporters said.

"With the opening of ICP, movement of trucks will be faster as there is a different gate for cargo movement altogether," Arora said.

"We can now handle as many trucks as can move in to Indian side from Pakistan. While exporters can also send over 250 trucks a day compared to 100-150 trucks going to Pakistan now," said Customs, Deputy Commissioner, R.K. Duggal.

The timings for trade has also been increased to 7am-7pm per day from 8am-4pm, which will also provide fillip to trade.

"Trading was usually halted whenever there was some VIP either coming from Pakistan or going to Pakistan as there is only one gate. Now with ICP, traders will have more time for carrying out trading activity," he said.

India and Pakistan had agreed to start cross border movement of trucks in the month of October 2007 after a gap of sixty years from Attari Check post at Amritsar in India to Wagah border in Pakistan with an intention of boosting bilateral trade.

The Pakistan government has allowed import of 137 items from India through Wagah land route.

Source : indiatoday.intoday.in