Panjab Farmers Union Demand Reopening of Attari-Wagah and Hussainiwala Trade Routes with Pakistan

In 2019, following the 2019 Pulwama attack, India revoked Pakistan’s Most Favored Nation (MFN) status and imposed a 200% duty on non-essential goods. However, bilateral trade between India and Pakistan continues through Mumbai and Gautam Adani’s (Prime Minister's ally) Mundra ports. Panjab’s peasantry, traders, transporters, and laborers have been impacted by limiting the trade through two land routes – Attari Wagah and Hussainiwala. Distance between Mumbai and Karachi is 1037 kilometers and between Mundra and Karachi is 516 kilometers. The distance between Amritsar and Lahore is 54 kilometers and Ferozepur to Kasur is 25 kilometers. Trade via Panjab is cheaper and beneficial for north India's economy. The World Trade Organisation states while current India-Pakistan trade is at $3 billion, the possibility of $37 billion exists. On 20 Sep, Kirti Kisan Union, held rallies at Amritsar and Ferozepur to demand farmers should be allowed to sell their produce directly using passports through the Attari-Wagah and Hussainiwala routes.