Passenger flow, trade come to a halt as govt shuts Attari
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
According to data on the
Land Port Authority of India
website, during 2022-23, over 70,000 passengers moved through the Attari-Wagah border, while nearly 7,000 consignments, valued at around Rs 3,900 crore, flowed in and out of the country.
Soyabean, chicken feed, red chillies, vegetables and plastic yarn and dana (granules) were among the items shipped to Pakistan through the route, according to the website, while dry fruits, gypsum, cement, glass, rock salt and herbs came into India, some of which also arrived from Afghanistan.
Former commerce secretary
Rajeev Kher
said govt's decision is a demonstration of its intent to stop flows and will have an impact on the people in Pakistan who depend on Indian products. "At this point, there is little trade from Attari.
Officially Pakistan has closed trade with India. However, there is a trade of around $1billion with Pakistan and a minuscule quantity of imports of around $30 million but the trade from Attari has largely remained closed," said director general at Research and Information System for Developing Countries, adding that there was a need to show a tough stand.
Pakistan has been advocating trade through the land route and some in India too were demanding more liberal rules. A few days ago, Shiromani Akali Dal workers also clashed with Border Security Force personnel near the Attari Integrated Check Post, demanding reopening of the border for trade.
India's response after the Pahalgam carnage is seen as a signal that trade and people's relations can only be normalised if Pakistan stopped sponsoring terror.
Post the Pulwama attacks in February 2019, the Union govt had withdrawn the most-favoured nation granted to Pakistan and raised import duty to 200% on goods from Pakistan across the border.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
Mumbai businessman accused in bank fraud and money laundering case denied bail
Mumbai: Observing that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) collected sufficient material to prima facie conclude that the applicant was actively involved in the offence of money laundering, a special PMLA court on Friday rejected the bail plea of businessman Vijay Gupta. He is accused in a Rs 764.44 crore fraud involving the State Bank of India (SBI). Gupta, founder of the Vindhyavasini Group of Companies, which operates in steel manufacturing, real estate development, and infrastructure services, remains in judicial custody. The ED strongly opposed the bail, submitting that Gupta is a "habitual economic offender" actively involved in money laundering. Given the gravity and seriousness of the offences, the court concluded that Gupta is not entitled to bail. While the defence claimed that the accused was in jail for over 12 months, the court noted that he was arrested in the money laundering case only in March this year. The court said that the period of custody in the predicate offence cannot be considered since the offence under section PMLA is a different and distinct offence. The ED's case stems from six FIRs registered by the CBI and EOW, Mumbai, against six companies of the Vindhyavasini Group. It is submitted that these companies, promoted and managed by Gupta, are accused of defrauding the SBI's Eastern Express Highway Branch in Thane of approximately Rs 764.44 crores. According to the ED, the accused used 57 shell entities and 117 bank accounts for the placement, integration, and layering of the proceeds of crime. The ED detailed a systematic scheme of fraud, including the submission of fabricated and inflated Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), Technical Economic Viability (TEV) reports, and highly inflated valuation reports of mortgaged properties to secure maximum loan sanctions from SBI. It was further alleged that the accused colluded with Vishwas Kadam, a then relationship manager for Medium Enterprises (RMME) at SBI, Thane branch, and loan consultant Vijay Patil, to process and approve loans based on these forged documents. The ED claims Gupta paid a bribe of Rs 59 lakh to Vishwas Kadam. It was further submitted that there was a diversion of approximately Rs 164 crore from cash credit limit accounts of group companies to Gupta's personal accounts and shell entities owned by him and his brothers, Ajay Gupta and Sanjay Gupta. These funds were allegedly routed multiple times for unauthorised purposes. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai The ED also submitted that around Rs 42.77 crore were withdrawn in cash from August 2010 to July 2013 from the bank accounts of the Vindhyavasini Group, shell entities, and personal accounts of family members. Allegations include the purchase of flats in Borivali and Kandivali using illicit funds, with one flat reportedly purchased in the name of his children's caretaker. It was also alleged that Gupta siphoned off a significant portion of Rs 13.20 crore received as compensation from NHAI for land acquisition, some of which was already mortgaged with SBI. Gupta's lawyer argued that he was falsely implicated and that the case was lodged with ulterior motives. It was also contended that the transactions are civil in nature, with recovery proceedings already initiated by SBI pending before civil courts. It was also submitted that sufficient collateral was provided to the bank, and the remaining dues of Rs 321 crores (out of a total loan of Rs 805 crores, with Rs 486 crores already recovered) could be covered by auctioning mortgaged properties, including the Solaris Building at Powai, valued at approximately Rs 400 crore in 2013. The defence highlighted Gupta's incarceration of over 12 months and the unlikelihood of a speedy trial given hundreds of witnesses and over fifty thousand pages of documentary evidence.
Time of India
35 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Come, let us unite': MK Stalin hails Thackeray brothers' anti-Hindi powerplay; vows to 'teach BJP a lesson'
NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin on Saturday welcomed the thaw in ties between Thackeray brothers against the "imposition of Hindi" in Maharashtra " by the Bharatiya Janata Party. A critique of the three-language policy under NEP himself, Stalin slammed the Centre for "withholding Rs 2, 152 crore in funds under Samgara Shiksa Abhiyan" and asked what languages are being taught as a third language in Hindi belt schools. "Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the people of Tamil Nadu, who have been waging a generational battle for linguistic rights to defeat Hindi imposition, have now transcended state boundaries, stirring a storm of protest in Maharashtra. BJP , which acts unlawfully and anarchically by declaring that funds will only be allocated if Hindi is taught as a third language in Tamil Nadu's schools, has been forced to retreat for the second time in Maharashtra, where it governs, out of fear of the people's uprising. The enthusiasm and oratory of the victory rally held in Mumbai today, led by brother Uddhav Thackeray, against Hindi imposition, is truly exhilarating," Stalin wrote on X. — mkstalin (@mkstalin) "I am well aware that the Union government, which prioritises the promotion of Hindi and Sanskrit full-time, has no answers to the questions raised by Mr. Raj Thackeray: 'What is the third language taught in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan?' and 'Hindi-speaking states are lagging behind—why impose Hindi on the people of progressive non-Hindi-speaking states?' Will the Union government change its vindictive stance of withholding ₹2,152 crore in funds under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan for Tamil Nadu unless it accepts the new education policy that imposes Hindi and Sanskrit under the guise of a three-language policy? Will it immediately release the funds legally due for the education of Tamil Nadu's schoolchildren?" he added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Grupo Energía Bogotá CFD: Calcula cuánto podrías ganar invirtiendo solo $100 Actualidad Empieza ahora Undo Tamil Nadu chief minister also vowed to teach BJP and its allies "a lesson they will never forget!" "Come, let us unite! Tamil Nadu will fight! Tamil Nadu will win!" Stalin said. This comes after Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chiefs came together at the "Awaz Marathicha" rally to celebrate the rollback on what they called the government's bid to "impose" Hindi over Maharashtra. The Fadnavis government had issued a Government Resolution (GR) on April 16, making Hindi a compulsory third language for students in Classes 1 to 5 studying in English and Marathi medium schools. Since the announcement, both parties had opposed its implementation. Sena (UBT) and MNS called the policy an indirect imposition of Hindi. Uddhav said that the decision was similar to the Emergency, while Raj urged schools not to follow the government order, calling the imposition of Hindi an "anti-Maharashtra activity." The fierce opposition eventually compelled the government to retreat from its decision on June 29. The government also announced the formation of a committee under educationist Dr. Narendra Jadhav to suggest the way forward and oversee the implementation of the language policy. The panel has been given three months to study the issue and prepare a report.
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Narayana Murthy's Infosys sends warning emails to employees for..., says company...
Narayana Murthy's Infosys sends warning emails to employees for…, says company… Infosys, the Indian IT giant, which made news for laying off hundreds of its trainees, is again making headlines. This time, the IT company is in the news for sending personalised warning emails to its employees who are working long hours and have exceeded standard working hours, disobeying founder Narayana Murthy's advocacy for a 70-hour workweek. Why Infosys Sending Warning Emails To Employees? The Bengaluru-based IT firm has put in an automated monitoring system which automatically triggers alerts when any employee works more than 9 hours and 15 minutes in a day. The automated monitoring system is monitored by the HR department, which tracks every employee's working hours every month. The department sends warning emails to those employees who exceed prescribed durations. 'We must work for 9.15 hours a day for five days a week, and if we overshoot this while working remotely, it prompts a trigger,' The Economic Times quoted an employee as saying. Why Infosys Monitoring Remote Work Hours? Notably, the monitoring system was implemented after the hybrid working arrangements for the company's 323,500 employees. When the HR team detects an individual's long hours it sends comprehensive emails which include details about remote working days, total hours worked, and daily averages. Beginning in November 2023, the company mandated a minimum of ten days of in-office work per month for all employees. The emails highlight that employees should make a balance between health and work-life, which benefits both personal wellbeing and professional success. Are Health Concerns Driving A Policy Shift In The Indian It Sector? This initiative emerges amid growing concerns about young tech professionals facing health challenges, particularly cardiac issues attributed to irregular dietary and rest patterns. It is worth mentioning that the companies have taken the initiative following growing concerns about young professionals facing health challenges, specifically heart problems due to irregular diet and rest timings. The company issued new guidelines advocating for regular work breaks and open communication with managers about workload. This contrasts sharply with previous statements promoting 70-hour workweeks. The shift reflects a growing emphasis on employee well-being and sustainable productivity within the Indian IT sector.
