Title - Cement import from Pak back on track

Amritsar : Almost a month after it was discontinued, the cement import from Pakistan through the Attari rail route started again today.The move followed after the Pakistan Customs authorities initiated measures to resolve the issue. The Indian traders had stopped cement import from the neighbouring country last month in view of three instances of heroin seizure in the rail cargo arriving from Pakistan.All-India Cement Importers Association president MPS Chatha said they resumed the import after Pakistan custom authorities started putting up bottle seals, which are tamper-proof, while locking up the bogies loaded with cement.The Pakistani authorities also assured their cement exporters that they will take extra caution at the time of loading the cement into the wagons to avoid any such incident, which may threaten trade.Chatha said the move came following the intervention of Pakistani traders who, alike their Indian counterparts, were suffering losses due to the suspension of the trade. He said now they would receive 50 to 60 wagons of cement from Pakistan on a daily basis.

The traders, however, said they were disappointed with the Indian government as it didn’t pay heed to their demand to ensure foolproof security network with scanners and other required system to curb smuggling of heroin in rail cargo. “We’ve long been seeking a complete overhaul of rail cargo facility, which is open from all sides and is, therefore, vulnerable to vagaries of weather as also any mischief.