KARACHI, Jan 28: The Indian government plans to set up a most modern and integrated customs office, an e-commerce facility and a weigh-bridge at the Wagha-Attari border to facilitate trade between India and Pakistan.

It would also install scanners at the Wagha-Attari border to boost security and to check goods coming from Pakistan.

Jai Ram Ramesh, minister of state for commerce, said this during a recent visit of the Pakistani delegation to New Delhi. The team was in New Delhi to attend a meeting of the executive committee of the Saarc chamber.

However, Pakistani businessmen felt that security risk was a two-way concern and Pakistan government should also install scanners to check all goods coming from India.

The Indian minister, who was the chief guest at the dinner hosted by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), for Pakistani delegation said his government plans to spend Rs900 million to develop a fast track facility at the Attari border to facilitate trade between the two countries.

He, however, categorically stated that along with other facilities, the Indian government would also install scanners to scan all cargo crossing the border.

He further disclosed that 120 acres land was being acquired from the local government concerned to develop a most modern and integrated customs facility which would also include e-commerce and weigh bridge facilities.

The Indian government has already released Rs120 million as first installment for development of integrated land customs facility at Wagha-Attari border and the entire project would be completed in 18 months.

Members of the Pakistan delegation, led by Tariq Sayeed, president, Saarc Chamber of Commerce and Industry, however, expressed concern over difficulties being faced by exporters at border in the absence of facilities on the Indian side.

Amjad Rafi, former president of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), drew the attention of the Indian minister towards absence of a truck stand facility, and stated that cement export from Pakistan could be made through land route and a very small quantity was presently being carried by the the railways.

Pakistani delegation included Zubair Tufail, vice president, FPCCI, Iftikhar Malik former president, FPCCI and Jamil Maghoon, senior vice president, Saarc Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The Pakistan delegation expressed concern over trade imbalance between the two countries and pointed towards a number of reasons, including Non-Tariff Barriers (NTB) which were hindering Pakistani exports to India.

The Indian minister was, however, quite realistic and agreed that by adopting a liberal trade policy with neighbouring countries, like Pakistan and Bangladesh, the trade balance would still remain in favour of India.