Indo-Pak expert group favours increased overland trade in petroleum products

India expects to export major petroleum products to Pakistan via the land route with the government of Pakistan increasing the number of items allowed for import through the land route from 110 to 137.

During the first meeting of the experts' group on trade in petroleum and petrochemical products held on 17-18 July at New Delhi, the Indian side requested the Pakistan side to remove its present restrictions on trade by road route so that petroleum and petrochemical products can also move across the border.

While the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari-Wagah border was thrown open on 13 April, trade through the land route is limited to specified petroleum products.

The Indian side suggested that solid products like pet coke and sulphur could be moved in open trucks, finished lubes (small packs and drums) in containers, and liquid products like hexane, MTO, petrol, furnace oil, LAB, MEG, DEG, TEG, lube oil base stock be transported in ISO tank containers /tank trucks.

Trade through the Attari-Wagah railway line is currently limited to trade in petrochemical products only, mainly by Indian Oil Corporation Limited.

Both sides agreed that the current prohibition on rail movement of container and open wagons for pet coke and sulphur needs to be re-examined. The Indian side emphasised the desirability of developing another railway route for trade, i.e., the Munabao-Khokrapar route.