Title - Road link likely between India and Pakistan soon

JAISALMER: India and Pakistan may soon open a road link between the two countries via Munabao in Rajasthan to Khokharapar in Sindh. The step would be a milestone in promoting this region's business and tourist activities.The 7th round of India-Pakistan talks on commercial and economic cooperation was held on September 20-21 in Islamabad between the commerce secretaries of the two countries. The Indian delegation was led by S R Rao, commerce secretary and Pakistan was led by Munir Qureshi, secretary, commerce. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the progress made in the bilateral trade relationship, since last round of talks in New Delhi in November 2011.On exploring the possibilities of opening new land routes for trade, Pakistan informed that a working group on Munabao (near Barmer) to Khokharapar (Pakistan) Road Link has been constituted.Indian side has already conveyed constitution of the working group. It was agreed that a meeting on Munabhao-Khokhrapar would be held in the fourth week of October, 2012 at New Delhi.It may be mentioned here that the rail link between two countries was revived when Thar Express started its regular ferry between Munabao and Khokharapar in February 2006. Once the road link is revived trade links can be strengthened and more visitors can come to tourist and religious locations like Jaisalmer and Ajmer Sharif.

Source said that soon a time will come that Rajasthan-Sindh road link will start plying and Munabao would become a huge commercial centre.

With plying of road link between Pakistan and India, western part of Rajasthan will benefit. The revenue of the centre and state governments would increase, while the economic situation of people will strengthen and employment opportunities will increase. And Sojat's henna, limestone of Jaisalmer, stainless steel utensils of Jodhpur, bhujia, papad, rasgulla, galia of Bikaner, handicrafts of Barmer etc will go to Pakistan, while trade of textiles, dry fruits, slippers, threads, leather items etc will take place from Pakistan.

At present, there is a heavy demand for Jodhpur's mawa kachori, laddu of Gadra and ghotuon of Jaisalmer in Pakistan. Passengers going by Thar Express especially take these three items for their relatives. There is also a heavy demand for Assam's beetle nuts.

Prior to Indo-Pak war in 1965, goods trains used to ply between Jodhpur and Karachi. There were strong business relations between Sindh and Marwar. After the war, the rail tracks were uprooted between Munabao and Khokharapar and this rail route was closed. The Thar Express started plying on this route from February 18, 2006 and since then it has been demanded to start a goods train on this route. Three years ago, a delegation of chamber of commerce had come to Jodhpur to find out the possibilities of starting business through Munabao route.

Later, in September last year, when the commerce minister of Pakistan Fahim had come to Ajmer, that time too, he was asked to start goods trains. Official sources from custom said the Central government looking at the possibilities of starting goods train on this route had reserved land at Jaisinder village near Munabao. Later on the request of custom officers, the land was shifted to Gadra railway station near Munabao.

Sources said that the Centre would allot budget for construction of building for customs on decision of opening the rail route for trade and commerce between Munabao and Sindh.