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| JINX IN OPENING OF SUCHETGARH –SIALKOTE ROUTE DEJECTS TRADERS | | |
Jammu, August 19 : Leaders of chamber of commerce and industries in Jammu and Kashmir feel dejected following the refusal of Islamabad to reopen Suchetgarh-Sialkot road.
The traders were anxiously waiting for the formal announcement of opening of trade link between India and Pakistan in Jammu region and were excited. Many among them had started framing their strategy for exporting series of items to Pakistan occupied Kashmir.
And President of Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industries,Mr Ram Sahai,said here today “had the route been opened for trade and traffic we could export more than one dozen items to occupied Kashmir.”He said “we had already prepared a list of items which were in demand across the border.”
Mr Sahai listed pharmaceuticals, black mushroom, Basmati,wheat, liquor, willow craft,paints,mutton,steel rolling,cement iron(sariyah) which were in great demand in Azad Kashmir.He explained that since the October last earthquake had caused massive destruction of houses people needed cement and iron for the reconstruction work.
In reply to a question the Chamber Chief said “the road opening would have allowed us to export goods worth over Rs.150 crores per year.”He said he hoped that Islamabad would agree on the reopening of the Suchetgarh-Sialkot route in the interest of people in “Azad” Kashmir because “our exported item from this route could be sold at cheaper prices there.”
He explained that since Suchetgarh was less than 27 kms from Jammu the export of heavy and perishable items could prove an easier affair than from exporting them through other routes.
Mr Sahai said that in case Pakistan Government had some difficulty in allowing Suchetgarh-Sialkot route to be opened for trade it could consider the opening of Nowshehra-Mirpur route for trade.
He said that the issue could be raised with Pakistan Government when nearly 70 traders from Jammu and Kashmir would visit POK area and same matter could be discussed with traders from across the border who were also to tour “our state.”. |
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