The decision to grant MFN status to India is a welcome step; but before signing any formal agreement both the Pakistani and Indian governments would have to ensure proper infrastructure at Wagah Border with private sector participation.
In a statement issued here Friday, former LCCI Vice President and Convener Standing Committee on Pakistan-India, Aftab Ahmad Vohra has said that there was a dire need to establish a container yard, expand loading and unloading space, create full-fledged online banking facility, and establish Quarantine department and other labs.
Aftab Ahmad Vohra also alleged that the NLC team at Wagah is charging huge amounts under the head of service charges. Therefore, the government should constitute a board or trust comprising of members from both the public and private sectors to monitor the day-to-day working at Wagah border.
He said the government must focus on solving the problems being faced by business community, especially by importers at Wagha Border. National Logistic Cell (NLC) is handling all cargo arrangements at Wagha Border terminal and has drastically increased loading and unloading charges, scanning charges, inward and outward local truck gate pass charges, demurrage charges, storage charges and wharfage charges, without prior consultation with stake holders. In addition to this, the coordination between the departments including customs, NLC and banks engaged at Wagha Border Terminal needs a lot of improvement.
