For the traders and industry in Amritsar, resumption of trade with Pakistan through the Attari-Wagah land route is a key poll issue. They say reviving cross-border trade will also benefit farmers, transporters and labourers. The volume of trade between India and Pakistan through the land route used to be around Rs 5,000 crore per annum before the bilateral trade ties were suspended in 2019.
Resuming trade with Pakistan will not only boost the economy of Amritsar but it will also create more employment opportunities, the traders said.
The local industry has made it clear to the candidates of all major political parties that the revival of trade was necessary for the betterment and development of Amritsar.
Amritsar along with 12 other parliamentary constituencies of Punjab will go to polls in the final round of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections on June 1.
"The government must resume trade with Pakistan because in Amritsar there is no manufacturing industry," said Amritsar-based industrialist Rajdeep Uppal.
Source Name : Economic Times