Srinagar, Jan 14: Despite constrains including lack of banking facilities, consumer goods worth Rs 25000 Crores have been exchanged from the both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) through Kaman Post in Uri of Kashmir.
"Since, August 21, 2008 when the cross LoC trade started as a Confidence Building Measure (CBM) between the two sides of the LoC, during 564 days of trade, more than 27,84, 885 quintals of goods were imported and exported which include handicrafts, spices, vegetables and dry fruits," Hilal Turkie, General Secretary of Salamabad-Chakooti Trade Union told said.
He said that more than Rs 2,26,66,035 was given to the labourers for 840 days of labour while as more than 37000 drivers exchanged the goods. "The truck (transport) industry has earned Rs 24,32,76000 since the trade between the two sides of the border started."
As per reports traders associated with Cross LoC trade paid more than Rs 20 Crores as Value Added Taxes (VAT) to the state government.
Which talking to Kashmir based news agency KNS, General Secretary of Salamabad-Chakooti Trade Union, Turkei also added that when the cross LoC started, more than 600 traders of the state got involved in it but due to the non- availability of communication facilities, banking and cold storage, the number of traders as on today have reduced to 80. Attributing the lack of facilities to discourage and dampen the enthusiasm of the cross LoC traders, he said, "We (cross LoC traders) want that the cross LoC traders be given the special permit and the facility of banking and cold storage facilities for storing perishable items." "We also demand that a trade fair shall be held on every three or six months so as to project the significance of the this unique effort and so that cross LoC trade could attain new heights." (KNS) |
