Customs official says they have been instructed to expedite work to clear pending consignments
LAHORE: The government on Wednesday reopened Wahga border for trade.
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The border had been closed after a suicide bomber killed more than 50 people near the Rangers check post on Sunday.
A large number of cargo vehicles carrying goods had queued up on Grand Trunk Road.
A cargo vehicle driver, told Customs Today, “We waited for the gate to open for two days as we cannot go home leaving the trucks unattended.”
A customs official said, “We are overburdened as the trade remained suspended for three days.” He added that all customs officials have been instructed to expedite the work to clear the pending consignments.
On the other hand, daily-wage labourers praised the authorities concerned for opening the border for trade.
Ameen, a labourer, said, “We had nothing to do for three days due to the closure of trade between Pakistan and India. To make a living we have to work on a daily basis. The suicide attack at the border saddened us.”
On Sunday, a suicide bomber blew himself up after civilians were coming back after attending the flag-lowering ceremony at the border. The flag-lowering ceremony is attended by hundreds of people on working days. On Sundays even a bigger crowd, including women and children, shows up at the border to participate in the ceremony to show their love and affection for the country and its armed forces.
The attack killed eight members of a family from Samundari and five members of another family.
Punjab Inspector General Mushtaq Sukhera had told media that the suicide bomber blew himself up near a Rangers checkpoint at the border.
Wahga is the only road border crossing between the two countries. The border remains open for trade on a daily basis.
