'Resume trade through Attari border'

In view of the suspension on Monday of the Indo-Pak trade through Attari land route in Amritsar (Punjab), traders from the Indian side have sought an early resumption of the trade. Senior Customs officials said a decision in this regard would be taken on Wednesday in consultation with the Pakistan authorities.

The trade between India and Pakistan through Attari route was halted on Monday following a suicide bomb attack on Sunday evening near Wagah border in Pakistan that left 60 people dead and many injured. The trading activity would remain suspended till Wednesday.

Currently, India exports perishable commodities mainly vegetables such as tomato, potato, ginger besides soya meal to Pakistan. While Indian traders import cement, gypsum, dry fruits, rock salt.

Speaking to Business Standard, Narain Exim Corporation President, Rajdeep Singh Uppal said, "The exporters have suffered due to the suspension of trade since Monday. All the perishable commodities were taken back by the exporters, resulting in losses. Tuesday and Wednesday being a holiday, there is a relief for traders. Trade doesn't take place on holidays, otherwise the quantum of loss would have been huge. We expect that the things will normalise and trade will resume soon." His company exports vegetables to Pakistan.

Currently, Pakistan had allowed import of only 137 items through Attari land route despite it being the cheapest and the shortest trade route, although import has also grown but the balance of trade is still in India's favour.

Indo-Pak trade through Attari land route in Amritsar has witnessed significant increase in the recent past through the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at the Attari border, which was inaugurated on April 13, 2012 to facilitate the trade.

According to a study released by Assocham, the opening up of the ICP at Attari-Wagah border and Pakistan's granting the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India can increase the bilateral trade to eight billion dollars a year in the next two years from the current level of $2.6 billion.