New trade route at Kasur b/w India-Pak

Islamabad, Feb 9: Ganda Singhwala border near Kasur could be reopened as another trade route to boost trade between India and Pakistan, a senior Pakistani Revenue official said today.

Federal Board of Revenue Chairman Abdullah Yousaf said the Board would soon present a report to the government for opening this route. The FBR chairman also announced that a new gate will be opened at the Wagah border to facilitate round-the-clock bulk transportation of trade goods. ''The gate will be constructed close to the previous border crossing gate, and both the sides have planned for it,'' Mr Yousaf said while speaking at the inauguration of Passenger Facilitation Centre, Wagah (Rail and Road) in Lahore.

He informed that the new centre would reduce customs clearing time of a bus-load of passengers to 25 minutes, which earlier took about two to three hours through manual clearance. For a train, the time would be reduced to an hour-and-a-half, from the earlier five to six hours, he added.

Calling for improving rail-link between India and Pakistan, the FBR Chairman said sufficient number of wagons for goods trains between the two countries are needed to boost trade through railways.

Earlier speaking on the occasion, Caretaker Prime Minister Muhammadmian Soomro asked officials concerned to open more trade routes with India to facilitate export of cement and other products to New Delhi.

Mr Soomro said such facilities will improve trade and cut cost of business between the two countries, adding that promotion of trade between the two neighbours will also help rationalise rates of different commodities across the border.

The Prime Minister also underlined the need for promoting people-to-people contacts.

UNI