Category: Business

Business

Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini promote oneness for Kashmir

Editor

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan and veteran actress-politician Hema Malini have featured in “Vaadi-e-Kashmir”, a short film aimed at spreading the message of oneness. “As an Indian, this film is my attempt to reach out to Kashmir and touch the hearts of our brothers and sisters in the valley,” Hema, who has also curated the film, said in a statement. “Vaadi-e-Kashmir”, which captures the valley’s beauty and people, is supported by KENT RO Systems Ltd, and has music and lyrics by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Gulzar. It is directed by filmmaker Pradeep Sarkar…

Read More

Transporters call 2 Day ‘Wheel Jam’ for shifting of batamaloo bus stand from today

Editor

To protest the shifting of Batamaloo General Bus Stand to Parimpora on city outskirts, Kashmir Transporters Welfare Association (KTWA) has called for a two-day strike of buses and mini-buses from Wednesday, 6th September. Spokesperson KTWA Mukhtar Ahmad on Tuesday said shifting of Batamaloo bus stand has “adversely affected” livelihood of thousands of people associated with commercial vehicles and businesses operating around the erstwhile bus stand. “The government should stop playing around with lives of transporters and traders. It has been decided that a Chakka Jam of buses and minibuses will…

Read More

GST ‘Troubles’ keep Eid shoppers away from Kashmir markets

Editor

Traders say still adapting to new tax regime; Import of goods witnesses a decline With just three days left for Eid-ul-Adha or the festival of sacrifice, markets in Kashmir are yet to be fully abuzz with shoppers as factors like the recent implementation of Goods and Services Tax that has led to less import of goods to the Valley have proved to be a dampener. While traders and businessmen are hoping for footfalls to increase in next couple of days, they say an average rush of shoppers is doing no…

Read More

Night flights from Srinagar to start soon: Govt

Editor

The state government is all set to start night flights from Srinagar Airport after the Airport Authority of India and Indian Air Force gave security clearance and approval for the 24×7 flights. Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan today convened a meeting to review the modalities for starting round-the-clock flights from the airport. The operations of night flights from Srinagar Airport have been a long-pending demand of Kashmiri people. The process to start night flights picked up in May 2013 when the AAI and IAF gave the permission to the…

Read More

Trader Bodies extend support to hurriyat’s bandh call for August 29

Editor

Several traders’ bodies, including Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF), Kashmir Economic Alliance and Kashmir Traders Federation (KTF) today extended support to the strike call given by the separatists for August 29. The call had been given to “resist attempts to abrogate Article 35A” that confers special rights and privileges to the state subjects. In a statement, KTMF president Mohammad Yaseen Khan said they were “ready to face bullets in order to protect the special status of Jammu and Kashmir”. “It will be an all-out war if the Centre scrapped…

Read More

Kashmir tourism videos take Internet by storm

Editor

Present aerial shots of Valley’s scenic spots; the videos get lakhs of views The promotional campaign of the Tourism Department using drone cameras has taken the Internet by storm. Presenting aerial shots of Kashmir valley’s tourist spots, the videos are getting lakhs of views besides being widely shared. A video showcasing the bridges of Srinagar city on the Jhelum has so far got over 2,18,500 views plus nearly 5,000 shares. Other videos, especially the one on Dal Lake and another on Gulmarg, too, are breaking the Internet. Even though Valley’s…

Read More

KEA extends support to Hurriyat Conference on Article 35A row

Editor

Kashmir Economic Alliance, an umbrella trade body, on Tuesday extended its complete support to Hurriyat Conference for fighting the proposed abrogation of Article 35-A. Addressing a press conference at a local hotel here, Farooq Ahmad Dar, co-chairperson, Kashmir Economic Alliance said the proposed “Kashmir bandh” call given by KEA on Monday has been withdrawn in view of forthcoming Eid-ul-Azha. Dar said KEA is ready to follow whatever action plan is announced by Hurriyat Conference. “We appeal Hurriyat Conference to play their role with regard to Article 35-A. Our faction will…

Read More

5% Hotel occupancy in ‘Peak’ tourist season

Editor

Even as tourist arrivals in the Kashmir valley have remained on the lower side this year, the hoteliers are among the worst hit. The stakeholders say there is just around five per cent occupancy rate in hotels at a time usually considered to be the prime tourist season. “There is just around five per cent occupancy. Kashmir hotels have got bed capacity of around 70,000 and there are just a few thousand tourists. This is like a drop in the ocean in the summer months usually considered to be the…

Read More

Kashmir Industrialists call Centre’s tax exemption decision ‘Discriminatory’

Editor

Calling the central government’s recent tax exemption announcement for Jammu and Kashmir ‘discriminatory as is going to benefit only handful of industrial units in the state’, the Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) today expressed surprise over the statements of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and her three cabinet colleagues welcoming the decision. FCIK also sought J&K Government’s clarification on how the centre’s is going to boost and promote the industrial development in the state. On August 16, the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced the extension in tax exemption…

Read More

NIA arrests businessman Zahoor Watali for ‘Funding Militants’

Editor

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) today arrested businessman Zahoor Ahmad Watali for allegedly funding militant and separatist activities in the state. Watali, who is an alleged hawala conduit, was arrested in New Delhi this evening following multiple searches on Wednesday at various locations in Kashmir which belong to Watali’s relatives and employees. “The NIA today arrested Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali in connection with a case pertaining to the funding of terrorist and separatist activities in J&K,” said NIA Inspector General (IG) Alok Mittal. Watali is being questioned by NIA officials…

Read More