In Amritsar, the reestablishment of trade ties with Pakistan via the Attari-Wagah land route emerges as a pivotal electoral concern for traders and the industrial sector. They contend that reigniting cross-border commerce would not only benefit farmers, transporters, and laborers but also inject vigor into the local economy.
Formerly, the trade flow between India and Pakistan via this route amounted to approximately Rs 5,000 crore annually until bilateral trade relations were abruptly severed in 2019. The anticipated revival of trade with Pakistan is anticipated to not only infuse vitality into Amritsar’s economic landscape but also catalyze job creation, assert traders. Candidates from major political parties have been impressively lobbied by the local industry, emphasizing the indispensable nature of trade rejuvenation for Amritsar’s advancement.
Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections on June 1, Amritsar, alongside 12 other parliamentary constituencies in Punjab, stands poised for decisive polls. “The imperative reinstatement of trade with Pakistan is underscored by Amritsar’s dearth of manufacturing industries,” contends Rajdeep Uppal, a prominent industrialist based in the city. Uppal, the erstwhile chair of the CII Amritsar Zone council, accentuates the pivotal role played by Indo-Pak trade in bolstering both economic prospects and regional peace-building efforts.
Trade activities between the two nations through the Attari-Wagah land route have remained dormant since 2019, save for continued imports from Afghanistan via the same route. The imposition of a hefty 200% customs duty on all Pakistani imports by India post the Pulwama attack in February 2019 further stymied trade relations.
Pakistan reciprocated with a suspension of bilateral trade with India in August 2019, triggered by India’s abrogation of Article 370, granting special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Envisioning the resumption of trade with Pakistan, industry leaders foresee substantial employment opportunities emerging at the Integrated Check Post located in the border district. Previously, unrestricted trade facilitated employment for around 2,500 porters and numerous truck drivers engaged in import-export operations on a daily basis.
India’s exports to Pakistan encompassed a diverse array of commodities including vegetables, cotton yarn, soybean extraction, and spices, while imports comprised dry fruits, cement, gypsum, and rock salt. The impending resumption of trade with Pakistan is hailed by traders as a boon not only for the industrial sector but also for farmers, as it promises the restoration of lost markets.
“Our agricultural community stands to gain significantly from trade with Pakistan, which historically served as a prominent market for our produce,” emphasizes Uppal. Highlighting the symbiotic relationship between consumers and farmers, he recalls a time when Amritsar’s agricultural exports flourished, satisfying consumer demands and enriching farmers alike.
Echoing similar sentiments, another exporter from Amritsar advocates fervently for the revival of trade with Pakistan, leveraging the city’s strategic triad of rail, road, and air connectivity. “The untapped potential for trade with Pakistan, coupled with prospects for commerce with Central Asia via this route, underscores Amritsar’s significance as a commercial hub,” he opines.
The historical significance of cross-border trade between India and Pakistan at the Attari Check post was underscored by a landmark agreement in October 2007, marking the resumption of truck movement after a hiatus of six decades. Subsequently, the establishment of an Integrated Checkpost at the Attari-Wagah border in 2012 further streamlined trade operations between the two nations.
As the final phase of the Lok Sabha elections approaches, political dynamics in Amritsar are characterized by the candidature of former US diplomat Taranjit Singh Sandhu from the BJP, Gurjit Singh Aujla from the Congress, and former minister Anil Joshi representing the Shiromani Akali Dal. The Aam Aadmi Party has nominated Kuldip Singh Dhaliwal as its candidate.