The lasbela Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has urged the Indian government to facilitate export of cement through land route.
Pakistani exporters are facing multifarious problems due to limited railway interchanges, absence of parking facilities and modern security scanning equipment for consignments on the Indian side.

The demand was raised by LCCI delegation in an exclusive meeting with Indian High Commissioner, Sharat Sabharwal on Wednesday.

The LCCI delegation was of the view that the immediate barrier in the way of export was inadequate transportation facilities for the lucrative trade across the border despite the fact that both the sides realized the need for improving road transportation facilities for smooth flow of trade.

"No cement consignments are moving through the road route due to infrastructure constraints like absence of parking facilities and modern security scanning equipment for consignments on the Indian side."

The orders were pending due to limited railway interchanges at Attari and lack of parking facilities on the Indian side of the border for Pakistani trucks, they said.

The delegation also stressed the need for issuance of multiple business visas for longer period, as this would have a positive impact on overall two-way trade between Pakistan and India.

Man-to-man interaction is the most important factor when one talks of bilateral trade between the two countries and by issuing multiple visas to businessmen, the embassies on both the side would be doing a great service to the respective economies of Pakistan and India, said LCCI President Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry.

Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry informed the Indian High Commissioner that India is the largest trading partner of Pakistan in SAARC region. The trade between two countries was estimated to the tune of $ 2.3 billion through official channels and similar amount of trade is done through third country.

The delegation comprised LCCI President Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry, Vice President Faisal Iqbal Sheikh, Vice President, SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Iftikhar Ali Malik, former LCCI President Mian Shafqat Ali, former Senior Vice President, Sohail Lashari, former Vice President Aftab Ahmad Vohra, Chairman PIAF Irfan Qaiser Sheikh and Convener LCCI Standing Committee on Diplomatic Missions Tariq Rehman.