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| Cross-LoC trade completes one year; Banking, telecommunication awaited | | 21ST Century miracle | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 21: Described by many as 21st century miracle for its continuity with modest success in absence of almost all required facilities, the Cross-LoC trade between two parts of Jammu and Kashmir today completed one year of its operation.
Following an agreement between India and Pakistan, the LoC trade was formally launched by the Governor N.N. Vohra at the Salamabad trade facilitation centre near the border town of Uri in Baramulla district in north Kashmir on October 21 last year. The next day, Governor’s Advisor had flagged off first consignment on the Poonch-Rawalakote section which later became the most preferred route for trade.
Trading, though smooth over the past year, has been low key as it is purely on a barter basis -- goods sent from one side of the LOC are not paid for in cash, but are traded for with other items.
"We have no modern trade facility or practices like bank accounts, telephones, squaring off of accounts. We are continuing a medieval trade practice, exchanging goods," said a Srinagar trader.
State industry and commerce minister Surjeet Singh Slathia, along with members of the the local traders' federation, chamber of commerce and industry and office-bearers of Salamabad-Chakoti traders union met at the Salamabad trade facilitation centre to celebrate the anniversary and discuss measures to make the cross-LOC trade more meaningful.
Dates, praying mats, spices, dry fruits, oranges and Peshawari slippers are the main goods reaching here from Muzaffarabad while vegetables, handicrafts and apples are the principal items sent from India.
As many as 123 consignments have bee made across LoC through Srinagar-Muzaffrabad road since the launch of trade in October last year. Over 1.30 lakh quintals of various commodities including Jai Namaz Carpets through 2273 trucks costing Rs 45.26 crores was registered this year.
It was given out that 62 consignments from PoK to Jammu and Kashmir in 1348 trucks- containing 87123 quintals of commodities while as 61 consignments weighing 43084 quintals of commodities costing Rs 18.69 crore from J&K to PoK during the period. In all 190 traders from every nook and corner are presently involved with various trade activities through trading centre Salamabad.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that a project for Rs 40 crore for providing better facilities at the trading centre has been approved. He said that 75 kanals of land identified for the trading centre is being developed shortly. He assured all basic facilities would be kept available so that the traders would not face any difficulties. He appreciated the role of Chamber of Commerce and Ex-President Late Ram Sahai in this direction.
Director, Industries Farooq Ahmad, MD Industries G. A. Tak, MD, SICOP and other senior officers and large number of traders were present on the occasion.
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