Category: Business

Business

Fest aims to put Gurez on adventure tourism map

Editor

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…

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Panel criticises trade body leaders house arrest: GST Row

Editor

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…

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Secrets places of Kashmir no one will tell you about

Editor

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 —…

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Rafting event organised at Wessun to promote tourism

Editor

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…

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Artisans protest, seek GST rollback on handicrafts

Editor

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…

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Kashmir tourism going through worst crisis in last two decades

Editor

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…

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Cloudburst hits Khonmoh industrial area, Surrounding areas

Editor

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…

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Won’t pay tax, if GST not rolled back: Civil Society

Editor

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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Traders, Civil society demand GST rollback

Editor

Jammu and Kashmir Coordination Committee (JKCC), an amalgam of trade and civil society members formed recently to oppose Goods and Services Tax (GST), in its present form on Monday threatened to launch civil disobedience in case GST is not rolled back by the state government. “The state has means to exercise its powers. We too have means so we will not pay tax. We are not asking government to provide us any exemption or incentives which we used to get in the previous tax structure but restoration of financial autonomy.…

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GST unpreparedness hits traders, leads to shortage of goods

Editor

As the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) has became a reality in Jammu and Kashmir, several Valley-based traders Saturday said many Multi-National Companies (MNCs) and wholesalers outside the state have stopped receiving any fresh orders for new stocks as these firms are still upgrading their systems for invoicing of goods. Most Kashmir-based traders now fear that fresh stocks wouldn’t be able to arrive here for next one month as outside companies are still in a process to upgrade their systems in tune with the new tax regime. “I…

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