Container depot sought in Attari as trade increases

The Customs department has asked the government to provide a container depot facility at the international border here to handle increased traffic, as the integrated check-post (ICP) alone cannot handle it.

“The ICP can’t handle container traffic. We have written to the Central Board of Excise & Customs for setting up an inland container depot (ICD) for the movement of containers and take up the issue with the Ministry of Commerce,” said K K Sharma, commissioner, Customs, Amritsar.

Since the setting up of the ICP at Attari last year, the value of imports from Pakistan into the country has increased considerably. The imports rose 87 per cent to Rs 630 crore during April-December 2012, year-on-year. Exports to Pakistan were up 54 per cent to Rs 1,237 crore during the first nine months of 2012-13.

Sharma said as Pakistan was expected to grant Most favoured Nation (MFN) status to India this year, an ICD facility, along with a goods train service between the two countries, were required. While India has given MFN status to Pakistan, the latter has restricted the entry of goods from India to 137 items.

The department is expecting trade to double when ICPs with the setting up of Inland Container Depot and resumption of goods train interchange in a big way.