To boost cross-LoC trade, the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Asghar Samoon today directed the officials to facilitate meetings between traders of the two sides and also build residential quarters for PoK businessmen so that they don’t mix with local population. He also asked the members of trader bodies to look for possibilities of trade in goods other than the approved items.
During a meeting of traders and officials here, Samoon directed the Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla, and other officials concerned to have joint consultation with traders for enhancing marketing prospective of the trade.
He asked the officials to improve the trade through the Trade Facilitation Centre at Uri in north Kashmir by putting in place trader-friendly measures.
“We really need to take this trade to the next level by putting in place various administrative units, which would make the trade completely safe, secure and hassle-free,” Samoon told the officials and traders in the meeting. He said officials should ensure that the banking and telecommunication facilities were provided without any further delay. However, the Divisional Commissioner accepted that “certain hiccups” had derailed the cross-LoC trade.
He also sought status of installation of full-body truck scanners at both the trading points.
The Divisional Commissioner said the centre would facilitate increase in the quantum of trade.
“Inclusion of additional tradable items to give a fillip to local industry in the state should be really looked into. We should also focus on trading our own indigenous products which will give a big boost to the local economy,” he said.
Samoon said since 2008, a total of 31,567 trucks carried goods from Uri to Muzaffarabad in the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir while 2,881 trucks came from across the LoC.
He said a total trade of Rs 3,700 crore had been done since 2008.
Facilitate LoC traders’ meetings to boost business, officials told
