Chidambaram lays foundation stone of Integrated Check Post at Attari border
Attari (Punjab): Union Home Minister P Chidambaram along with Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal laid foundation stone of Integrated Check Post (ICP), envisaged to boost trade and commerce between India and Pakistan, at Attari border here
on Saturday. The project is being constructed at a cost of Rs. 150 crores to be
developed on 130 acres of land acquired by the Punjab Government. P. Chidambaram,
during his address on this occasion, said that Attari is the first integrated
check post in the series of 13 integrated check posts on the International Border
of India with various countries. The work on this project would be completed within
14 months. Chidambaram said that the setting up of integrated check post is a
major initiative, which the Government of India has taken as part of a Plan scheme
with an initial outlay of Rs. 635 crore during the 11th Five Year Plan. Lauding
the role of farmers of the Border belt here, Chidambaram said that the Central
Government is fully aware of their hardships and problems and will work out a
special plan for making their life comfortable and convenient, as they lead a
life in uncertain and uncomfortable circumstances. Appreciating the farming community
for bumper wheat crop in Punjab, Chidambaram said: "We salute them and the people
of Punjab deserve all praise for making the country self sufficient on food front."
On this occasion, Punjab Chief Minister Badal in his welcome address highlighted
the problems of the people of border belt and demanded a special package for the
development of the area under the Border Area Development Programme. He asked
the Union Home Minister to restore the special remuneration of Rs. 2,500 per acre
earlier being given to the farmers of the border belt which was stopped by the
Central government some time back. Badal urged for giving special package to border
blocks and also job quota to the unemployed youth in BSF and other Central forces,
besides setting up skill development centres. He also emphasized the need to give
compensation to the farmers whose land is being utilized by the BSF for patrolling
purposes. He made a plea to exempt toll tax on the Attari-Amritsar 4 lane road.
Besides, he requested the Union Home Minster to strengthen vigil along the Indo-Pak
border to check flow of narcotics and fake currency from across the border. He
also aid that modernization in Punjab Police Force infrastructure is very essential
and the Central Government must allot more funds for this purpose. Union Home
Minister and Chief Minister later inaugurated BSF Wives Welfare (BWWA) emporium
at JCP and witnessed Retreat Ceremony. He also distributed sweets to the BSF jawans
and Pakistan Rangers. P. Chidambaram and CM Badal also paid obeisance at the Golden
Temple.
Speaking to newsmen after laying the foundation stone of the Check Post, Chidambaram said: "We have not got a MFN (Most Favoured Nation) status
that is a fact and that's a complaint we make, it is a fact of life but because
we do not have the MFN status that doesn't not mean that all trade and commerce
should come to an end. We will continue the demand for the MFN status but we will
also continue to encourage trade and commerce". To give boost to the trade between
the two countries India has given MFN status to Pakistan in 1998 but Pakistan
is still reluctant to reciprocate with the same gesture. Besides not giving MFN
status to India recently Pakistan also imposed high import taxes on the perishable
commodities that have been exporting from India to Pakistan. That resulted in
a sudden fall of the export of tomato, onion, ginger and other commodities from
Attari - Wagah land route from India. Speaking about the recent rocket attacks
in border villages near Attari, Chidambaram said, "Pakistan doesn't admit that
its forces fired the rocket. But we know they came from that direction". Union
Home Minister Chidambaram along with Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal
laid foundation stone of Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari border. It aims
at improving trade link between India and Pakistan. The project, envisaged to
boost the trade and commerce between India and Pakistan, is being constructed
at a cost of Rs. 150 crores to be developed on 130 acres of land acquired by the
Punjab Government.
