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| September 20, 2005 | Tuesday | Sha'aban 15, 1426 |
Cement import via Wagah likely next month
LAHORE, Sept 19: Overland trade between Pakistan and India is expected to resume next month after a short break as Pakistani importers and traders plan to import fresh ginger and cement from across the border.
“We’ve sent inquiries to the Indian cement producers on behalf of our clients,” Chaudhry Barkat Ali, an importer, told Dawn here on Monday.
“As soon as the Indian producers intimate the price of cement, we’ll place the order,” he said. He added that cement from India would be imported via railway.
Moreover, he said, some “Pakistani importers were also looking into the possibility of bringing fresh ginger from India provided a competitive rate was offered by the Indians”.
Pakistan normally imports fresh ginger from Thailand, etc. for meeting its requirements.
“Some importers have already closed deals for import of ginger with Thai exporters. We are waiting for the Indian ginger crop to ripe. Once the crop comes in the (Indian) market, we’d see if its rate makes a business sense for us. If it does, we will place the order, if it doesn’t we’d go to Thailand,” Chaudhry Barkat said.
The importers are also in touch with local customs authorities as to confirm that ginger can be brought from India via Wagah.
“It is a fresh item whose import is subject to custom duty and other taxes. We don’t want our import to rot on Wagah border just because they (the government) do not have any bank there to collect import taxes. The final decision to import ginger from India over land depends upon assurances by the customs authorities that they would not delay the release of the consignments on the pretext of absence of a bank at Wagah for the collection of taxes and duties on it,” he said.
In an unprecedented move, Islamabad opened the Wagah border for trade with India in May this year, permitting duty free import of livestock, garlic, tomatoes and potatoes to increase their supply for bringing down prices in the local market.
Later on the government also lifted ban on the import of sugar from India whose retail price touched Rs29-30/kg due to its short supply in the market. Apart from other sources, some 1900 tons of sweetener has been brought in from India via Wagah this month.
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