Amritsar, December 1

Traders from Taliban-ruled Afghanistan are going to participate in the annual edition of the Punjab International Trade Expo (PITEX), scheduled to be held in Amritsar from December 2 to 6.

However, the visitors will miss the famous non-vegetarian dishes, articles and fashion line of Pakistan this time too. It seems the cross-border tension has taken over the bonhomie of the Kartarpur Corridor facilitation. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has not been granting visa to Pakistani traders since 2017.

Discouraged by the constant visa rejection, the Pakistani traders themselves refrained from applying for the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry-sponsored trade and cultural bonanza. RS Sachdeva, Chair, Punjab State Chapter, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said, “Five stalls have been booked by Afghanistan-based traders who will join us soon. They may bring dry fruit, herbal and Unani medicines.” PITEX will be inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister OP Soni. — TNS