Traders, business leaders call for reopening of Attari-Wagah Border
Claim that other ports continue trade with Pak; Amritsar left with no choice
Border Security Force jawan stands guard at the Integrated Check Post near the Attari-Wagah border amid rise in tension between India and Pakistan, in Amritsar district. (PTI Photo) Several industrialists, traders, doctors and social organisations’ representatives, on Wednesday, called for the reopening of the Attari-Wagah border and to immediately resume trade through the border with Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asian countries, which has remained suspended for seven years.
Those present at the gathering included the Global Chairman of the World Sikh Chamber of Commerce — Parmeet Singh Chadha, and the Chairman of the World Sikh Chamber of Commerce Punjab — Rajinder Singh Marwaha, who organised the gathering.
Chadha and Marwaha also led a march from Chowk Ghanta Ghar to Maharaja Ranjit Singh Chowk on Virasat Marg. It was followed by an ardas at Harmandar Sahib, to carry the voice of Amritsar’s business community to the Central Government.
The speakers at the gathering strongly condemned the alleged discriminatory treatment meted out to Amritsar’s business community. They claimed that while trade with Pakistan continues through the Mumbai and Gujarat ports via Dubai, Amritsar’s border traders were left without any alternative.
Prior to the 2019-Pulwama attack, the trade through the Attari Integrated Check Post (ICP) was worth over Rs 4,000 crore annually. It provided livelihoods to transporters, labourers, porters, small shopkeepers and employees in the border region; today, all of them stand unemployed.
The gathering also paid tribute to Sri Guru Ramdas Ji, who had historically settled entrepreneurs from 52 trades from Lahore, Kasur, Patti and other places in Amritsar. They established the city as a great centre of commerce. They also offered prayers at the Guru’s feet for the restoration of favourable conditions that would allow trade to resume and bring economic prosperity to all of Punjab.
Notable attendees included Principal Kulwant Singh Anakhi (Patron, Amritsar Vikas Manch), Harpreet Singh Bhatia, Tajinder Pal Singh Bobby Badshah, Baldev Singh Randhawa (National Chairman, Legal Rights Protection), Amarjit Singh Sachdeva, Amarjit Singh Narang, Advocate Teg Brothers and architect Jagjbir Singh.
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