India to open integrated check post at Wagha for trade with Pakistan

The Integrated Check Post at Wagha will formally open tomorrow, heralding a new era in bilateral trade between India and Pakistan, minister of commerce, industry and textiles, Anand Sharma said today.

The minister was addressing a function at the opening of the 'Lifestyle Pakistan' exhibition by designers in various categories like fashion textiles, jewellery, designer furniture and leather goods showcasing high-end items, in New Delhi, today.

Sharma and Pakistan's commerce secretary Zafar Mahmood jointly inaugurated the `Lifestyle Pakistan 2012' exhibition.

The exhibition is one of the steps taken by both India and Pakistan to enhance bilateral commerce and open new channels for shipment of goods, Sharma said while inaugurating the event.

''It gives me immense pleasure to be in the midst of this distinguished gathering for the inaugural of Lifestyle Exhibition of Pakistan. It is heartening to see 100 exhibitors from all parts of Pakistan participating along with a big delegation of 650 people, in this show, demonstrating the best of Pakistani products'', he said.

Elaborating on the developments, Sharma said, ''If we look back at the last one year, the intensity of our engagement has been truly amazing. Within a span of less than five months, we have had two bilateral meetings at the commerce ministers' level and will have a third one tomorrow within less than ten months - four meetings between our commerce secretaries and seven engagements of our ministries' joint secretaries! In addition, there have been many other joint working group meetings related to customs cooperation, trade infrastructure, possibilities of trade in electricity, visa issues and others. We have held an India Show in Lahore in February and within two months this Pakistan Show in New Delhi is indeed heartening.''