The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday raided the house and office of a leading businessman and carpet exporter in Kashmir in connection with exports proceeds involving over Rs 20 crore. A joint team of the Enforcement Directorate and Crime Branch of the Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday raided businessman Sheikh Ashiq’s office Al-Khuddam at the Sangarmal complex inSrinagar and his house at the Ahmad Nagar locality of the city. Ashiq and his family are into carpet export business and also run a tour and travel agency under the name of…
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Business
Jhelum cruise showcases old city’s heritage
Trial run started on July 12, service likely to give a boost to tourism Even as the government’s plan of a water transport service is yet to see the light of day, the Jhelum cruise has been making travellers discover Srinagar’s rich heritage. The cruise offers glimpses of old heritage buildings and ancient structures of Khanqah-e-Moula, Hanuman Temple, Badshah’s tomb and Hazrat Bulbul Shah shrine on the banks of the Jhelum. “It is just a trial run at present. The cruise is showcasing Srinagar’s heritage,” said Ufair Ajaz, vice-president, business…
Read MoreFest aims to put Gurez on adventure tourism map
In an effort to put the virgin locations of Gurez on the tourism map, a three-day ‘Gurez Festival’, organised by the government, started on Saturday. The festival will promote Gurez as a destination for adventure sports activities. “Gurez has a lot of tourism potential. There is scope for all activities, including trekking, mountain biking and white water rafting, which need to be promoted through such festivals,” said Tourism Director, Kashmir, Mahmood A Shah. Adventure sports activities like trekking, white water rafting, mountain biking and angling will be part of the…
Read MorePanel criticises trade body leaders house arrest: GST Row
The Jammu and Kashmir Coordination Committee (JKCC), an amalgam of various trade bodies, today flayed the government for placing under house arrest its leaders ahead of the proposed sit-in on Tuesday. JKCC coordinator Siraj Ahmad said an emergency meeting of the amalgam was held today where the members expressed “utter disbelief, shock and surprise over the unwarranted and uncalled for house arrest of its leaders, Dr Mubeen Shah and Mohammad Yasin Khan”. He said they had been put under house arrest today as the JKCC had called for a sit-in…
Read MoreSecrets places of Kashmir no one will tell you about
Talk about Kashmir and the places that come to mind are Srinagar, Sonmarg, Gulmarg and Pahalgam. They remain the most frequented and popular tourist destinations. There’s much more to discover in this lovely state. Presenting the lesser-known beautiful places of Kashmir that you must visit once in your lifetime: Gurez Valley Photographs by Amit Tyagi The Kishanganga river flows through this picturesque valley, located in northern Kashmir. For a view of its river flowing in front and the pyramid-shaped peak of Habba Khatoon — named after the famous Kashmiri poet —…
Read MoreRafting event organised at Wessun to promote tourism
The Department of Tourism, Kashmir, and Adventure Tour Operators Association of Kashmir organised a rafting championship at Wessun in Ganderbal district as part of its efforts to promote tourism. Expressing happiness over the successful conclusion of the championship today, Minister for Public Works Naeem Akthar, who gave away prizes on the occasion, said youth should highlight positive stories of the state. Kashmir Tourism Director Mahmood A Shah said the department was vigorously promoting adventure sports in Kashmir. “The adventure tourism also provides opportunity for entrepreneurs. We have been organising training…
Read MoreArtisans protest, seek GST rollback on handicrafts
The demand to rollback the goods and service tax (GST) on handicrafts grew louder as artisans, traders, manufacturers, exporters and raw material suppliers associated with the sector staged a protest here today. Even as the stakeholders associated with the handicrafts sector are already up in arms against the GST implementation, they threatened to intensify protests in case their demand was not met. “We have been cheated by the government. The Finance Minister had assured us in June that the GST will not be implemented on the handicraft sector. However, when…
Read MoreKashmir tourism going through worst crisis in last two decades
The tourism sector in Kashmir is going through its worst crisis in over two decades, with many hotels closing down, staff being laid off and players in the industry looking for alternative businesses or even job opportunities. Tourism, considered as the most visible asset of Jammu and Kashmir’s economy, has been pushed to a cold dark corner, where things are going from bad to worse as the situation in the valley remains tense. Even with hotels offering discounts as high as 70%, occupancy rates are less than 5% at a time…
Read MoreCloudburst hits Khonmoh industrial area, Surrounding areas
A massive cloudburst caused flash floods at Khonmoh area here on outskirts on Wednesday morning damaging more than hundred units at the Khonmoh Industrial Estate (IE). Reports said the first cloudburst occurred at 9:30 am hitting Industrial Estate Phase-2. The second cloudburst hit Phase-3 of the IE in the afternoon. The IE is divided into three phases and there are almost 450 industrial units in the estate spread on 4000 kanals. Witnesses said more than 100 units have been damaged. Industrial units affected by the cloudburst included those manufacturing of…
Read MoreWon’t pay tax, if GST not rolled back: Civil Society
The Jammu and Kashmir Coordination Committee (JKCC), a grouping of trade organisations and civil society groups, said on Monday that it will take to the route of civil disobedience if the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is not rolled back by the state government. “If the state has means to exercise its power, we, too, have means. We will not pay any tax to the government if it is not rolled back,” said Shakeel Qalander, a member of the JKCC during a seminar, ‘Surrender of Fiscal Autonomy and Compromise on…
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