Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has proposed setting up of Friendship Park at Wagha Border to facilitate meetings between the Pakistani and Indian businessmen. While talking to Business Recorder, the convener of the LCCI Standing Committee on Pak-India Business Promotion, Aftab Ahmed Vohra on Friday said the Friendship Park can facilitate meetings between importers and exporters of the two countries where they can also exchange samples within designated area at Wagha Border.
He said the truck drivers of Pakistan and India are issued permit on spot for loading and offloading of goods in the territorial jurisdiction of each country but businessmen have to get visa from the embassies concerned. He urged both governments to also issue one-day permit/visa to the importers/exporters to engage them into cross border business activities. This would not only save the businessmen time but also help improving trade volume between the two countries, Vohra said. He also urged the authorities to allow 24/7 cross border movement of the trucks and make necessary arrangements in this regard. He pointed out that similar agreement was signed between the two countries well before which could not be implemented so far mainly due to lacking appropriate facilities.
He also stressed the need for developing a cold storage and shed for the perishable items at Wagha Border. Vohra said that currently the goods' consignments are being transported in open trucks and demanded initiation of containerized service to maintain the quality of exporting goods.