LAHORE, Jan 9: Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat said on Friday that a suggestion to open borders with India was a part of the composite dialogue expected to start next month.
Talking to reporters during his visit to the Rangers and FIA check posts at Wagah border, the federal minister said there was a need to improve facilities at borders, railway stations and airports after the resumption of air and road traffic with India.
He urged the immigration authorities and the Rangers to take extra-measures to improve security along the border keeping in view that the people crossing the border from both sides did not face problems. He also directed them to install water coolers and replace cement benches with the wooden ones at the Wagah railway station, besides reopening the canteen closed for the last two years.
He ordered the Rangers to plug the loopholes, if any, so that the menace of illegal border crossing could be checked. He said the government would provide maximum funds for fencing and purchasing surveillance equipment.
Answering a question, he said the Sharif family had left the country by striking a deal with the then government and could come back by their own desire. "Nawaz and his family were not expelled, and if this was the case they would not have been given a warm reception in Saudi Arabia," he said.
On the issue of illegal immigrants, the minister said only five to 10 per cent crossed into the country by using legal means of immigration. The government was aware of this problem and taking measures by enhancing the border security to check it.
When asked to reveal the belonging of the arrested accused who had attacked President Musharraf and the invitation extended to Indian Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani to visit Pakistan, he refused to comment.
Earlier, Col Saleem and Lt-Col Sher Zaman received the federal minister at the Rangers Headqu-arters and briefed him on the Rangers' achievements and problems.
Mr Zaman said 14 fixed cameras and six revolving cameras had been installed at the Wagah railway station from the security point of view. He said the capacity of the stadium constructed for the visitors witnessing the flag-lowering ceremony should be increased. He demanded that funds should be allocated for the extension of the stadium, repair of the broken border wire and the construction of a shade.
Later, Faisal Saleh Hayat visited the immigration check-post where he was briefed by FIA director-general Syed Mohib Asad, director Chauhdry Tanvir and other senior officers.
They informed the minister that some 160 people daily crossed the border. During the last six months, some 2,451 people from Pakistan and 2,724 from India had crossed the border. They also highlighted the problems being faced by them like the shortage of staff, transport and office equipment.