Pakistan refuses land route facility to India

Islamabad, Nov 9 (UNI) Pakistan has rejected the Indian request for transit facility to import sheep from Afghanistan through Peshawar-Lahore land route via Wagah border and advised Delhi to use the Karachi sea route only.

The Nation reported today that New Delhi had sought permission from Islamabad to use the land route of Wagah border to import sheep from Afghanistan, which costs less.

However, India was informed to use the Quetta-Karachi route for this purpose, the paper quoted commerce ministry sources as saying.

India says the Quetta-Karachi route is more feasible for importing sheep from Afghanistan, they added.

Pakistan is likely to cash on its strategic location by providing transit facility to neighbouring countries for passage of their goods consequently earning millions of dollars as transit fee.

The decision has been taken after receiving a number of requests from the neighbouring countries to provide them the facility. The policy is under review and one of the donor agencies is also supporting this project.

Currently, Pakistan is providing transit facility to Afghanistan under the Afghan Transit Trade Agreement (ATTA) but Islamabad blames the agreement for smuggling of goods into Pakistan.

The government is reviewing the transit facility to Afghanistan under ATTA, the sources added.

Pakistan has so far received requests for providing its land route for trade from various countries including India, Central Asian Republics (CARs), China and Iran.

India is constantly demanding that Pakistan allow its goods to reach Afghanistan and CARs markets via land route. As the economies of the CARs are on the rise they also need to have good trade links with the South Asian countries.

The transit facility can become a major source of income for the country if properly channelized. The uniform transit policy will be finalized after carrying out a detailed study with the assistance of UNDP.

UNI XC MQA MIR RN1627