Open Fazilka, Ferozepur borders for trade with Pak: Sukhbir

The Punjab government today made a fresh appeal to the Centre to open Fazilka and Ferozepur borders with Pakistan to boost bilateral trade between the two nations.

The Punjab government made a fresh appeal to the Centre on Wednesday to open Fazilka and Ferozepur borders with Pakistan to boost bilateral trade between the two nations.

"I would personally raise this issue (opening of Fazilka and Ferozepur borders) with Union home minister P Chidambaram on April 13 during the inaugural ceremony of Integrated Check Post at Attari-Wagah border in Amritsar," deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal told reporters here.

He said once thriving business towns, these cities have suffered a lot with the closure of trade routes and industry also has shunned the area, being a border region.

He said the integrated check post if fully utilised would change the economic profile of the landlocked border state.

He said it was imperative to make Attari-Wagha a gateway to trade with Afghanistan and other central Asian countries.

Demanding a liberalised visa regime for Indian and Pakistani traders, Badal said to get optimum benefit of integrated check post, central government must strive for making suitable changes in visa rules especially for traders and investors.