KABUL: The Heart of Asia conference with focus on Afghanistan and the proposed arrival of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani have prompted local importers and exporters to request the governments of India and Afghanistan to impress upon Pakistan to allow transit access for export of goods from India to Afghanistan via the Wagah-Attari Joint Check-Post.
The international conference has revived the memories of age-old ties between Amritsar and Afghanistan in the memory of people, especially the dry-fruit traders. Many city-based business families used to import dry fruit and export green tea from here.
A businessman, Rajdeep Uppal, who imports dry fruit from Afghanistan, said, “Amritsar-based traders are importing dry fruit and fresh fruit from Pakistan and supplying these to the markets spread across north India”. He added that the rest of the domestic market is fed by imports taking place via the sea route.
The country was exporting many articles like man-made fiber, apparel, pharma, gem and jewellery, tobacco, dairy products and others to Afghanistan via the sea route. While the exports from Punjab in general and via Attari were nil.
He added that there was a tremendous scope of exports from Punjab to Afghanistan and its neighbouring Central Asian countries. “The state has high quality of woollen apparels, blankets, shawls, engineering goods, pharmaceuticals and goods from other sectors”.
These goods could be speedily delivered at cheaper freight rates to Afghanistan and Central Asian countries, which share their boundary with Afghanistan, like Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
A trader, Mukesh Kumar, said before the dark days of terrorism, Amritsar was the main supply head of dry fruit from Afghanistan while green tea, utensils and other articles were also traded between Afghanistan and the holy city. There used to be thrice a week flight between Amritsar and Kabul.
Majith Mandi and its adjoining areas, located in the maze-like roads of narrow lanes of the walled city, lost their pristine glory of being the dry fruit hub of the country after the civil war broke out in Afghanistan.Many dry fruit traders have closed trade ties with their Afghan counterparts.
The majority of the traders in Majith Mandi who had a flourishing business in Peshawar had to migrate to Amritsar and find a new market in Majith Mandi after the Partition.
PL Seth of Shawl Club of India said Amritsar and Afghanistan share similar dressing habits and climate. He said direct export of woollen clothes, including blanket, tweeds, shawls and others be felicitated from here.
He lamented that at present shawls like many other products were being exported to Afghanistan via Dubai which escalate the cost of at its destination. There is a high need for exchange of cultural programmes and trade exhibitions between both countries. He demanded opening of consulate office at Amritsar for early visa which will promote business.
