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| J&K traders may soon reach Muzaffarabad | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Oct 14: A day after they received an invitation from the Prime Minister of Pakistan administered Kashmir, the Governor NN Vohra today indicated that a delegation of traders from Jammu and Kashmir may soon cross over the Line of Control to reciprocate the similar visit of traders from other side.
The Governor today indicated that a delegation of Chambers of Commerce and Industries from Jammu and Kashmir would soon pay a return visit to Muzaffarabad for bi-lateral interaction with the traders of Pak occupied Kashmir.
Chairing a meeting of senior officers from various Union Ministries, led by Mr K Skandan, Joint Secretary (Kashmir), Ministry of Home Affairs and all the concerned officers in the State Administration at Srinagar this evening, the Governor said that the exchange of visits is imperative for enhancing the level of cooperation and mutual understanding between the trading and business organisations on both sides.
Mr Vohra referred to his recent interaction with the PoK delegation and said that the general feedback he got was that the traders of both the sides were keen to expand the list of commodities to in respect of which trading would be allowed. This aspect, he said, can be taken care of by the Joint Working Groups comprising officials of the Governments of India and Pakistan when they meet next.
The Governor also referred to the strong demand made by the trading organisations of the two parts of Jammu and Kashmir about the need to simplifying the travel procedures which would be applicable to on both sides and the telephone connectivity.
Mr Vohra referred to the successful operation of the bus service through Uri and Chakkan-da-Bagh routes and said that about 9000 passengers so far had traveled across the LoC. He said that cross-LoC trade is yet another Confidence Building Measure (CBM) which aims at intensifying the people-to-people contacts in the region. He observed that the proposed opening of theKargil-Skardu route in Ladakh region would be yet another important milestone in the improving Indo-Pak relations.
The Governor said that the basic infrastructure for starting cross LoC trade is in place, both at Chakkan-da-Bagh and Salamabad in Uri. Further expansion is in the pipe line and land for the second phase of the infrastructural development at Salamabad has also since been acquired.
The Central Team apprised the Governor of their visit to Chakkan-da-Bagh during the day and briefed him about the arrangements made for the ensuing trade. The cross LoC trade is all set to start from October 21. Currently a 19-member Muzaffarabad delegation of Chamber of Commerce is on a visit of Jammu and Kashmir and have had several meetings with their counterparts in Srinagar and Jammu. The traders are discussing the viability of the commodities to be traded in by the two sides.
Among others present in the meeting were the Advisors to Governor, Mr H H Tyabji, Dr Sudhir S Bloeria, Chief Secretary Mr S S Kapur, Principal Secretary Home, Mr Anil Goswami, Principal Secretary to Governor, Mr Bharat Vyas, Director General of Police, CID, Dr Ashok Bhan, and Commissioner Secretary, Industries, Dr Pawan Kotwal, who is also the J&K Government's Nodal Officer for the Cross-LoC-Trade.
The Central team comprised Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Mr. T C A Raghavan, Joint Secretary, Home (K), Mr. S. Skandan, Joint Secretary, Customs in the Ministry of Finance, Mr P C Purti, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce, Mr Rajiv Khera, and the Joint Secretary, Mr Pankaj Kumar and Advisor Mr P S Chandulkar, in the Ministry of Agriculture. |
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