Modern facilities at Wagah border; easy visa for Pakistanis

Extending airport-like facilities for cross-border passengers and cargo movement, India today said it has approved a liberal visa regime for people of Pakistan, as New Delhi seeks peace and harmony with Islamabad with the help of trade free of all barriers.

Inaugurating an Integrated Check Post (ICP) here, built at a cost of Rs150 crore and equipped with facilities, including helipad, Home Minister P Chidambaram said: "I dedicate this on auspicious Baisakhi Day to the nation, to India-Pakistan peace, harmony,friendship and glorious future for both the people..."

Pakistan's Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim, present on the occasion, said, "It is a historic day. Long live Pakistan-India friendship."

Chidambaram said the Indian government has approved a new visa regime, which is yet to be by the Pakistani Cabinet. The visa rules would be "liberal for business people, for elderly, for children and for spouses," he said.

Fahim said, in principle,business people would be given multiple entry visa for a year that could be extended later.

Spread over 118 acres, the ICP has a passenger terminal of 9,600 sq mts with 16 immigration and 12 customs counters.

Fitted with X-ray baggage scanners and amenities like health services, child care and prayer room and ramps, the complex has a cargo-terminal and parking space for trucks.

Guarded by the Border Security Force (BSF), the ICP, though delayed by nine months in completion, has also been provided with a helipad.

Chidambaram appealed to Commerce Ministers of both the countries, present on the occasion, to dismantle all the trade barriers. "Trade is a great driving force...war may divide people, trade brings people together."

"ICP will lead to reduction in passenger and freight processing time, paving way for enhanced people-to-people contact," a Home Ministry statement said.

Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal said,"I would urge the Home Minister that the government should extend visa facility at the ICP. Indian MPs and Pakistan's MPs should be allowed (travel without visas)".

Chief Minister of Pakistan's Punjab State Shehbaz Sharif was also present on the occasion said the two countries which fought three wars should now "fight a war of economic competition," and resolve other issues across the table.

"Like in European Union, why can't India and Pakistan create a common market", he said.

Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma, who held bilateral talks with his Pakistani counterpart earlier in the day in New Delhi, said, at present Pakistan allows only 137 items from India through the land route. This should be increased with Islamabad shifting the trade regime to a negative list since last month.

In New Delhi, Sharma said India has decided in principle to allow foreign direct investment from Pakistan. The two sides would also constitute a joint business council with government and business representatives.

Besides, the ICP here, India will build 12 more such facilities along the borders with other neighbouring countries like Bangladesh.

A total outlay of Rs635 crore was envisaged for the plan. A statutory body, land port authority of India has been established from March 1, as a body to oversee the construction, management and maintenance of these ICPs.

Chidambaram said it is first of the 13 ICPs to be constructed on the border with Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal and assured that he would come back within two weeks to review whether teething problems have been sorted out.

Badal described ICP as gateway for both countries to prosperity, peace and mutual brotherhood and urged Indian and Pakistani governments to take initiatives to make the Indo-Pak border "soft, secure and peaceful" to give boost to the present relatively sluggish economic performance in the region.

The chief minister said the opening of ICP, which would prove to be a boon for the region, will be a 'Red Letter Day’ in the history of Indo—Pak relations.

He also emphasised the need to provide matching infrastructure on the other side of border in Pakistan to give further fillip to the trade between the two countries.

Union Minister Anand Sharma insisted that Pakistan should consider allowing export of all those items through ICP Attari that were being allowed through Mumbai port.

Sharif said that both countries would have to rise above past bitter experience and work together for economic integration.

In an emotional appeal, he said that instead of circular route for importing goods through Mumbai-Dubai-Karachi or Karachi-Singapore-Mumbai, why can't both countries trade through Attari.

Echoing the demand of Badal for opening Hussainiwala and Fazilka borders, he said greater participation of land route trade was better for both countries and hoped that commerce ministers of both countries would come to an agreement on this.

Lauding the role of Punjab Government in popularising the traditional game of Kabbaddi, Sharif invited Punjab's Kabbaddi and wrestling teams to Lahore for tournaments.