India upgrades trade, immigration facility at Wagah border

ATTARI/WAGAH BORDER: Giving impetus to people-to-people contact and trade ties with Pakistan, India opened a modern Integrated Check Post ( ICP), equipped with a dedicated passenger terminal and sprawling cargo facility, built at cost of Rs 150 crore here.

The ICP was inaugurated by Home Minister P Chidambaram in the presence of Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal and Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma.

Pakistan Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim and Chief Minister of its Punjab state Shehbaz Sharif were also present.

The ICP comprising 118-acre passenger terminal, is manned by immigration staff and equipped with 16 baggage X-ray scanners. It also has 4,700 square metre cargo handling facility and 55,000 sqm parking space.

With the help of 230 close-circuit TVs, the area will be guarded by the Border Security Force, officials said.

The ICP will be a boon to normalise bilateral commerce, which is expected to grow after Pakistan has removed restrictions on imports from India last month, shifting trade from positive to negative list regime.

Excepting about 1200 items, Pakistan now allows import of all other Indian goods even as only about 135 items are allowed through land route.

Earlier in the day, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said in New Delhi that India will allow foreign direct investment (FDI) from Pakistan. He held talks with his Pakistani counterpart.

"India has taken in-principle decision as a part of the process to deepen our economic engagement to allow FDI from Pakistan,".

Besides, the two countries have agreed to liberalise and give multiple entry business visas. Talks are on to allow banks from both countries to open cross-border branches.