Integrated post at Attari to be operational by April 2011

The Integrated Check Post (ICP) at the Attari border to facilitate trade between India and Pakistan is likely to be operational by April 2011. With more than 60 per cent work over, the ambitious project spread on 130 acres and built at a cost of Rs 150 crore is expected to be ready by the deadline. Experts believe that the trade between India and Pakistan will achieve a new milestone once the state- of-the-art ICP becomes operational.

With the completion of ICP, the infrastructure will enable ten times the number of trucks to cross the border. As per the data, on an average 30-50 trucks laden with Indian merchandise cross the Wagah border daily at present. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had already placed orders for installation of necessary machinery, including high-tech scanners for customs and immigration departments, for speedier services at the border.

 

“The ICP would provide modern infrastructural facilities for cross-border movement of persons, vehicles and goods. We are also going to install full body scanners for trucks. The facility would also give fillip to India’s trade and commerce,”said PK Sirohi, Chief Commissioner, Central Excise and Service Tax, Chandigarh

Indo-Pak trade had got a shot in the arm with commencement of cross-border movement of trucks on October 1, 2007 along the Attari border, Amritsar(Punjab). Earlier, the goods were exported by porters by exchanging their loads on Radcliff Line (at the border).

It is expected that with the opening of Attari border for trade, there would be a spurt in economic activity resulting in huge revenue and employment generation. Analysts say there is a tremendous scope of increasing trade of the few designated items including sport goods, light engineering hand tools, machine tools, hosiery and processed food products from Punjab. Fine staple cotton would be imported from Pakistan which has assured demand in the Indian market.

Further, the agriculture economy of both countries would get a major boost with the opening of trade through this border because the farmers would get better, remunerative prices for the produce because movement of the agriculture goods prove to be cost effective resulting in profit maximisation to the advantage of the both countries.