Fazilka residents seek opening of Indo-Pak border

Fazilka residents seek opening of Indo-Pak border

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• B.S Goraya

  Jul 29, 2005

  Fazilka residents seek opening of Indo-Pak border
  Our Correspondent
  
  Fazilka, August 28
  Thousands of residents of Fazilka and surrounding
  areas participated in a programme demanding the
  opening of the Indo-Pak border in Fazilka sector on
  Sulemanki and opening free trade and transportation
  between the two countries. The programme was organized
  by the Border Area Vikas Front and the Indo-Pak
  Sulemanki International Trade Front, Fazilka.
  
  Representatives of different forums, including Umesh
  Chander Kukkar, president, Bar Association, Fazilka,
  Dina Nath Sachdeva, president, Pakka Arthia
  Association, Ashok Gulbadhar, president, Beopar
  Mandal, Fazilka, Satish Kumar Dhingra, organising
  secretary, Punjab Pardesh Beopar Mandal, H.S. Bedi and
  Munish Bhateja, patron and president, of the Fazilka
  Press Club, respectively, Lila Dhar Sharma,
  secretary-general, Indo-Pak Sulemanki International
  Trade Front, Baljinder Singh, president, Border Area
  Vikas Front, Rajesh Kumar Angi, former president, of
  the Bar Association, attended the programme.
  
  They said by merely laying 10-km railway track from
  Fazilka to Amruka railway station in Pakistan, the
  rail track between Ludhiana and Karachi in
  pre-partition days can be revived. This would not
  entail any extra financial burden on the government
  instead it would enhance the revenue by way of
  transportation of containers in large numbers between
  Ludhiana and Karachi. Both the towns in India and
  Pakistan are the industrial houses of their respective
  countries.
  
  Besides, the trade activity would flourish and the
  poor labourers of the border belt would have more
  avenues to earn their livelihood. Majority of the
  speakers exhorted the public not to expect much from
  the politicians and bureaucrats as the unholy nexus
  between them was constantly indulging in fleecing the
  common man. Mr Baljinder Singh, president of the
  Border Area Vikas front, also demanded abrogation of
  visa system between Pakistan and Indian Punjab and
  called for implementation of permit system for
  travelling between the two neighbouring states.
  
  Umesh Chander Kukkar, president of the Bar
  Association, said by opening the international
  borders, there could be a global progress.
  
  Later, hundreds of activists of the two fronts took
  out a peace march in the town. On conclusion of the
  march, a deputation of both the fronts presented a
  memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister to the SDM,
  Fazilka.
  
  
  
  Dry port at Amritsar sought
  Our Correspondent
  
  Phagwara, July 28
  Hailing the opening of trade between India and
  Pakistan via the Wagah land route for the first time
  after Independence, Prof Kirpal Singh Badungar, former
  SGPC President and member, Political Affairs Committee
  of Shiromani Akali Dal, today demanded the setting up
  of an international dry port at Amritsar for further
  boosting trade between the two neighbouring countries
  and also developing the holy city of Amritsar.
  
  Talking to newsmen here, Professor Badungar claimed
  that the trade between two countries would further
  strengthen cordial ties and improve the economy of
  both Pakistan and India.
  
  Consignments of garlic had started going from India to
  Pakistan via the Wagah border this week. He said the
  demand of dry port was pending since 1978.
  
  Professor Badungar rued that the launch of the
  Amritsar-Lahore bus service was being delayed inordinately.