By Jaideep Sarin, IANS
Wagah (India-Pakistan border) : For the first time in the 60 years since they became separate countries, direct trade between India and Pakistan is set to look up with both countries deciding to allow trucks to cross the border from Oct 1.
Initially, the trucks will only be permitted to drive up to the customs house on either side where the goods will be transhipped. They might be permitted to drive further inland at a later stage.
A separate gate is being readied at the joint border check post between the two countries here, 30 km from the Sikh holy city of Amritsar, to facilitate the smooth transit of trucks across the frontier.
S.K. Swami, director (Border Management) in the home ministry, was happy Pakistan had accepted India’s proposal to allow trucks to cross the international border.
“Trucks from either side can drive through the border to the other country’s customs house. The unloading and re-loading will be done there,” Swami said.
Presently, trucks from both countries drive up to the customs gate near the international border and porters then carry goods on their shoulders and on trolleys to the other side. Porters from the other side then carry the goods to trucks waiting there.
The distance the porters have to travel is over one km on the Indian side. There are over 1,300 porters on the Indian side itself.
Customs officials indicated that after gauging the response, trucks might be allowed to travel to destinations like Lahore in Pakistan and Amritsar in India. Swami confirmed this could happen at a later stage.
However, customs officials here are a little apprehensive that the truck facility might be misused by some elements.
“The biggest worry is fake currency being smuggled into India. We will have to be extra alert as it can ruin our economy,” one customs official told IANS.
The truck drivers will not need a passport or a visa or an international driving licence. Instead, they will wear bright yellow jackets identifying them as “Driver Pakistan” or “Driver India”.
Trucks will be allowed from India into Pakistan from 7.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. every day and in the reverse direction between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. This is because Pakistan time is 30 minutes behind India. At present the ceremonial gate is open from 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
Customs officials from both sides have already inspected each other’s facilities to enable the new system to operate smoothly.
“This is a small step in renewing direct trade relations between both countries. Business, which has suffered in the Amritsar-Lahore belt for the last six decades, will again pick up gradually,” said trader Jagdish Singh.
The ceremonial gate presently caters to the crossing over of people and goods – and a Retreat ceremony every evening. With renewed bonhomie between the two sides since 2003, border security force (BSF) officials had complained that maintaining only a ceremonial gate was becoming a problem due to the enhanced traffic through this gate.
Since the goods transported to Pakistan through the ceremonial gate also included livestock, the area was often splattered with animal dung.
“The ceremonial gate is a very clean area. We were facing difficulties in maintaining it as livestock and goods were carried to the other side,” a BSF official admitted.