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| New beginning: Trucks lift trade barriers | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
URI/POONCH, Oct 21: A new era of cooperation and economic development on both sides of the Line of Control begin today as trucks loaded with goods, mostly gift items, cross the Line of Control at two crossing points of Salamabad in North Kashmir and Chakkan-da-Bagh in Poonch.
Hours after flagging off of trucks from this side, consignments from other sides entered the Line of Control in Salamabad on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road. The consignments from Pakistan administered Kashmir on Poonch-Rawalakote road will be entering through Chakkan-da-Bagh tomorrow and the PaK Prime Minister Sardar Attique Khan is likely to come upto the crossing point terminal on LoC.
Governor NN Vohra flagged off trucks at Salamabad amidst cheers from enthusiastic crowds. In Poonch, Governor’s Advisor HH Tyabji flagged off the trucks. Divisional Commissioner Jammu Sudhanshu Pandey was among those who attended the ceremony.
As the trucks moved towards the Kaman Post, an enthusiastic crowd of men, women and children, cheered and jostled with each other to catch a glimpse of the decorated merchandise fleet as it made its way across the mountains, into PaK.
Addressing the enthusiastic crowd at a specially-organised function, the Governor described the Cross-LoC Trade as an important Confidence Building Measure (CBM) aimed at normalizing Indo-Pak relations. He said the people of J&K would benefit from this measure as the trade links would open up new vistas of economic progress in the region.
Vohra dwelt on the background of resuming the trade links with PoK and said that the need for people–to-people contacts had been felt during the interactions with various social and political organisations a few years ago when the Prime Minister's Round Table Conference on J&K had constituted five Working Groups on different subjects. He said the bus service has successfully been plying on these two routes and the beginning of trade is yet another milestone in strengthening the relations with Pakistan.
Referring to the recent visit of the PoK Chamber to the Valley, the Governor said such visits were imperative for examining the whole gamut of trading between the two sides. He expressed the hope that as the trade between the two sides progresses, the range and volume of goods to be imported or exported would simultaneously increase.
Speaking on the occasion in Poonch, Tyabji described the day as historic on which the cross-LoC trade commenced after 61 years. He exuded confidence the trade will flourish in the coming years, adding that it will also help in promoting people to people contact.
Tyabji lauded the administration for creating facilities at the Cross-LoC Trade Centre (CLTC) at Chakan-Da-Bagh within the shortest possible time. He said it demonstrates the keenness and enthusiasm of the people about the launching of the trade. He also referred to the items approved for the cross-LoC trade and said that the list would be periodically reviewed keeping in view the needs of the people.
Referring to the recent visit of POK trade delegation, the Advisor said that the delegation was keen to visit Rajouri and Poonch districts but could not do so due to paucity of time. He said that this indicated the enthusiasm especially among the trading community of both sides to start the cross-LoC trade.
The Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, in his welcome address, congratulated the people saying that in the last 23 days all the concerned departments worked overtime for setting up the infrastructural facilities at the CLTC at Chakan-da-Bagh the foundation stone of which was laid by the Governor, Mr. N. N. Vohra on September 28.
Pandey said that all the required facilities have been put in place at the Trade Centre for smooth conduct of trade. The opening of Cross-LoC trade has brightened marketing avenues for the local produce, he added and hoped that the trade would increase with the passage of time.
The General Secretary, Beopar Mandal, Poonch district thanked the government for putting in place the requisite facilities at Chakan-Da-Bagh in a record time. He said the Beopar Mandal today sent three truck loads of gift items as a goodwill gesture to the people across the LoC. |
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