LAHORE: The Land Freight Unit Wagah has been the busiest route for trade between Pakistan and India for the last many years but project of extension in Wagah Customs area is still pending even after passage of two years when it was decided to extend the area of the port.
According to officials of Land Freight Unit, construction of a separate gate for the port is in pipeline for the last two years but no serious step has been taken by the federal government. Earlier, the federal government had decided to construct a separate gate and to provide more area to the Customs.
It was decided by the Ministry of Commerce and Trade that 65 acres of land will be added to the Customs area of the Land Freight Unit Wagah for the promotion of trade. This project was started to provide facilities to the importers and exporters of Pakistan but the project is still in pipeline for the last two years.
Sources said that the Asian Development Bank was ready to provide fund for this project but now due to late action by the authorities, the ADB has also denied to provide funds for the project.
It is pertinent to mention here that Wagah trade route is a biggest and busiest route of trade between Pakistan and India. Daily more than 300 trucks cross the international border in which more 100 trucks are only of vegetables that Pakistan imports from India.
Due to late in extension of Customs area, traders are facing problems in parking of trucks for loading and unloading.