February 08, 2008	Friday	Muharram 29, 1429

KARACHI, Feb 7: Caretaker Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro is formally inaugurating this week the customs checkpoint at Wagah border to facilitate overland transportation of cargo between Pakistan and India.

Pakistan has recently issued a notification to import half a million bales of cotton via Wagah on persistent demand of textile industry. Cotton is being imported from India through sea shipment via Karachi which the textile industry in Lahore and in the north found too expensive.

“The government inordinately delayed the notification for overland import of cotton via Wagah,” a textile industry leader in Lahore told Dawn over telephone. He said as world cotton prices started going up, the Indian suppliers were now looking for excuses to cancel the orders.

“At present 55 trucks carrying perishables are coming every day from India,” another businessman in Lahore said, adding there was no room for trucks loaded with cotton to enter Wagah check-post. The businessmen are expected to raise the issue of improving logistics to further expand cross-border trade with India when the prime minister comes to Wagah to inaugurate the customs checkpoint.

Pakistan’s cotton crop fell short of expectations from about 15 million bales to 11 million bales. More than one million bales are being imported from India.

Indian cotton is being imported via ships and railways and it will be the first time that it will be transported through trucks.