Indian Customs Board at Wagah to start working by 2010

[Naveed Yaseen]

KARACHI: Counsellor and Head of Commercial Wing, High Commission of India, Islamabad, R K Sharma has said that land custom board will start working by 2010 near Wagah border which would have X-ray machines for scanning import/export trucks. “These are all constructive signs for boosting commercial activity with Pakistan,” he said.

Sharma said he would look into the problems of non-tariff barriers, bank delay issues, extra security and check of Pakistani businessmen and export goods and the genuine problems faced by Pakistani exporters in executing trade with India and would discuss the same at highest possible levels.

On a visit to the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on Monday, he said that India has sought permission for their banks to operate in Pakistan and their applications are under process with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

FPCCI President, Sultan Ahmad Chawla, said that India is the most budding market for Pakistan with advantage of being the next-door neighbour and showed full interest in expanding trade and exports with India.

He mentioned that people in general and businessmen in particular of both the countries are suffering due to hostile attitude of politicians and cannot draw potential mutual benefits present at both ends. “Now it’s high time that the bilateral relations between India and Pakistan should be improved by enhancing trade and commercial activities rather exhibiting hostility from both sides,” he further stressed.

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