Lahore, After the suspension of trade and transport services between India and Pakistan, those most severely hit are the Pakistani coolies who work at Wagah border transporting goods. Now they are facing starvation, according to reports in Pakistan’s ‘Jang’.
It is over a month since Pakistan suspended all relations with India including the Samjhauta Express and the Delhi-Lahore bus service, following the scrapping of Article 370 giving special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan also suspended trade relations with India due to which there is no movement of vehicles across the border at Wagah leading to the starvation of Pakistani coolies and porters.
Earlier, due to trade activities between the two countries, the coolies, engaged in the loading and unloading of goods, used to earn good money.
Now, after the suspension of trade and transport services, the railway station and no man’s land wear a deserted look with no work for the Pakistani coolies.
“Coolies and porters living in the villages along the border used to earn a lot. They used to get Rs 300 to transport goods from parking area to zero line. Now after the border was closed, there is no work. Coolies come here everyday in the morning in the hope of finding some work and return in the evening disappointed,” said a contractor here.
The coolies are desperately waiting for normalisation of ties and opening of the border, a porter on the Pakistani side told Jang news.
