news details |
|
|
| Mufti says free trade, travel password to prosperous J&K | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Aug 13: Peoples Democratic Party patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has said the sense of siege, separation and insecurity that dominated Jammu and Kashmir after the independence has to be addressed as part of conflict resolution in the sub continent.
Speaking at the day long convention of his party workers at Kulgam today, Mufti regretted that the initiative taken by the coalition government in 2003 had not been carried forward. He said much more could have been achieved since then to open up the state to outside world through its traditional surface links that could demolish barriers of mistrust between India and Pakistan who together have to provide a congenial space for unhindered growth, development and dignity to the people of state.
Mufti said it was immensely important to build on the 2005 initiative when the 18 seated Karvane Amn bus had been able to pierce through apprehensions, mistrust and frozen mindsets to set a new agenda of understanding and forward movement on resolution of issues. He said it
was like a breath of fresh air for the people of the state who it seemed till then had been condemned to living in a geographical black hole with a highly restricted access to avenues of travel and trade in a world where free interaction was the defining ethos.
Though the introduction of trade across LOC had proved a successful enterprise it will need more bold measures like use of double currency and a viable banking back up to realize the full potential of this business, Mufti said and added establishment of a free trade zone between the two parts of erstwhile state was a historic necessity which cant be delayed for long. He said such measures coupled with harnessing of our natural resources alone could turn the situation around for the people of the state and help it cast away the stigma of being a begging bowl which it actually is not.
The PDP patron said reopening of links like Suchet Garh-Sialkot and Rajour-Mirpur can revive the economic fortunes of the state as nothing else. He said it was a positive development that traders and industrialists of Jammu region had realised the value of PDP’s agenda for taking the state upto the dead end situation that it had landed in after the events of partition. He said similarly people of Ladakh and kargil could rediscover their potential as trading routes by opening up links with Tibet and Pakistan. The introduction of container service between Pakistan and Turkey via Iran had opened up immense new possibilities for our country as well to reach Europe through the land route and Jammu & Kashmir which has had a rich history of trading in those regions would be at a distinct economic advantage.
Mufti said it was also necessary to further strengthen the bonds of social, political and administrative nature between various regions of J&K so that progress on resolution has the endorsement of all. He said the projects like the Mughal road and Simthan-Kishtwar road need to be speeded up with the objective of making them all weather routes that could transform the economic and social scenario of the most backward and far flung areas. Similarly, he said Zojilla tunnel needs to be built on priority and areas like Gurez, Machhil, Karnah and Keran opened up throughout the year.
Senior leaders Mohd Sartaj Madni Dy. Speaker &MLA , Ab Gaffar Sofi MLA, Ab Aziz Zargar &Nazir Ahmad Laway District President also addressed the convention.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
