India upgrades trade, immigration facility at land border with Pakistan

Attari, India, Apr 13 (PTI) Giving impetus to people-to-people contact and trade ties with Pakistan, India today opened a modern Integrated Check Post (ICP), equipped with a dedicated passenger terminal and sprawling cargo facility at Attari on the India-Pakistan Attari-Wagah land border near the northwest Indian city of Amritsar. Built at cost of Rupees 1.5 billion (nearly USD 30 million) and spread over 118 acres, the ICP was inaugurated by India's Home Minister P Chidambaram in the presence of his colleague Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma, and Punjab state Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal. Pakistan Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim and Chief Minister of Pakistan's Punjab province Shehbaz Sharif were also present. The ICP passenger terminal is equipped with 16 baggage X-ray scanners. It also has 4,700 square metre cargo handling facility and 55,000 sqm parking space. With the help of 230 close-circuit TVs, the area will be guarded by India's Border Security Force, officials said. The ICP will be a boon to normalise bilateral commerce, which is expected to grow after Pakistan has removed restrictions on imports from India last month, shifting trade from a positive to a negative list regime. Excepting about 1200 items, Pakistan now allows import of all other Indian goods even as only about 135 items are allowed through land route. PTI