LAHORE: Pakistan’s cement export to India through rail has come to a halt owing to the alleged narcotics smuggling from Pakistan via Wagha border.
Seizure of narcotics from freight trains carrying Pakistani goods to India through Wagha during the past four months has forced cement manufacturers to send their dispatches through road, said a Pakistan Railways official.
In the first week of October, Indian customs authorities found 105 kilogrammes of heroin from a freight train (its Bogey No 66,938) at Amritsar Railway Station while unloading Pakistani cement.
The seal of the wagon was intact till it reached Atari but was found broken on arrival at Amritsar. This fact was acknowledged by the Indian officials during preliminary investigations, said the railway official.
“Recovery of 105 kg of heroin at Amritsar cannot be blamed on Pakistan as the freight wagon from which the narcotics were seized was sealed after it crossed over to India. The seal was broken inside India and the responsibility lies with them,” he said.
A leading exporter said that at present, cement was being exported to India through trucks only. Indian authorities allow limited number of trucks carrying cement to cross over, resulting in declining export dispatches.
Internews
