Punjab wants AC containers, food storage centre at Attari

Chandigarh, Dec 4 (IANS) The Punjab government has urged the union commerce ministry to allow air-conditioned containers and a food storage centre at the Attari-Wagah border so that perishable goods could be exported to Pakistan, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said Tuesday.

Badal said that the commerce ministry has been urged to allow export of perishable goods to Pakistan and other countries through the Attari-Wagah border through air-conditioned containers. He said that the containers will increase the shelf life of perishable goods from Punjab and to put the products at par with international products.

Addressing the valedictory session of the Agrotech-2012 organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here, Badal said that the opening up of the Attari-Wagah border and giving a dry port status to it by allowing export of nearly 6,000 goods could be a game changer for the whole of northern India.

He said that Punjab government has asked the central government to set up an integrated container depot at integrated check post (ICP) at Attari, 30 km from Amritsar, and a food storage centre.

“During last month alone, 5,000 trucks have crossed the Attari-Wagah border, when we were allowing only export of 137 items. We are seeking additional infrastructure at the ICP because with the likely approval of export of 6,000 goods to Pakistan next month, there is an urgent need to expand the capacity of the dry port,” said Badal.

IANS 2012-12-04 21:26:04