ISLAMABAD: Ministry of Commerce (MoC) will implement the proposal of increasing number of operational hours at Wagah land route for trade with consultation of India consultation.
“Pakistan and India held a meeting in January last year at Indian capital, New Delhi and both sides reached an understanding on increasing working hours at Wagah with an objective of round the clock operations” a source at MoC told.
However, this proposal had not been materialized so far as no increase in number of operational hours at Wagah land route has been made.
There had been a steep decline in the share of cargo moved through Wagah land route to 8% in 2013-14 from 30% in 2004-05. The impediments faced by traders on this transport mode have remained unattended for several years since the issues are complex and require horizontal coordination between different ministries as well as vertical coordination within ministries and their departments.
However, MoC is of the view to keep the border open round the clock to increase the volume of trade between the two countries is unlikely to see light of day, even though the deadline set by both sides for implementing the agreed measures in this direction passed nearly a year ago.
According to the joint press statement issued after the meeting of commerce ministers last year, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expeditiously establish normal trading relations and provide non-discriminatory market access to each other.
