Category: Business

Business

TAAK holds ‘See Kashmir in Light’ in Ahmedabad

Editor

Travel Agents Association of Kashmir (TAAK) organized first of its kind a roadshow in Ahmedabad (Gujarat) in which travel agents and tourism officials from J&K and Gujarat participated. TAAK also organized ‘Promotional Evening’ at Hotel Fortune under the theme ‘See Kashmir in New Light’ where over 100 travel agents from J&K and Gujarat participated. Director Tourism Kashmir Mahmood A Shah and Director Tourism Jammu R K Verma were the chief guests. Director Tourism Kashmir gave a presentation on J&K’s all the regions highlighting tourism potential of the State, a TAAK…

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Uninsured flood-hit traders to get relief after Guv’s directive

Editor

After waiting for nearly one and a half year, the uninsured flood-hit Valley traders will finally get relief to restore their businesses. Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Asgar Hassan Samoon said the decision to this effect was taken in a recent meeting with Governor NN Vohra. “We had a meeting with the Governor and he has directed that on priority relief be distributed among those small-time traders who suffered losses in the floods and had no insurance,” said Samoon. In Srinagar, there are around 8,000 traders whose businesses were not insured and…

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Just one checking for vehicles carrying tourists, pilgrims to J&K

Editor

Taking a strong notice of the reports and complaints from different quarters that both, the Traffic as well as the Executive wings of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, were subjecting the non-J&K vehicles carrying tourists and pilgrims to unwarranted checking at around 25 points, Governor’s administration has ordered that such vehicles would be checked nowhere other than the entry point of Lakhanpur. Highly placed authoritative sources revealed to us that Governor’s Advisor Parvez Dewan last week directed Secretary Transport Kifayat Hussain Rizvi to come up with a policy that would ensure…

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Kashmir is natural play fields for adventure activities: ATOAK

Editor

Hails tourism department for declaring 2016 as “Adventure Tourism” year  Adventure Tour Operators Association of Kashmir (ATOAK) has hailed the decision of   department of tourism for declaring the year 2016 as “Adventure Tourism” year in Jammu & Kashmir. In a statement, the members of ATOAK appreciated department of tourism for such a ‘visionary’ step which has been taken at an appropriate time though it was a long pending demand to the department of tourism from ATOAK to showcase and expose the adventure tourism potential of our state in its…

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Facilitate LoC traders’ meetings to boost business, officials told

Editor

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…

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Only electronic mode of payment from treasuries in J&K from April 1

Editor

In a major decision, the government today directed all the administrative secretaries and head of departments to change the mode of payment of bills from manual to electronic from April 1 to avoid disruption of payment and ensure transparency. An order issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) has asked the departments and drawing and disbursing officers (DDOs) to ensure that the new system is put in place on priority basis to ensure transparency and integrity of the payment system. “To avoid delay in making payments to ultimate beneficiaries by…

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Tourist boom expected as snow pattern changes

Editor

With the Kashmir valley witnessing ‘maximum precipitation’ in February, the authorities expect the winter tourism season to peak this month. Several winter sports activities, including a national skiing event and Gulmarg derby, are on the cards this month. “In the last decade and a half, the snow pattern has shifted towards February, which is the best time to hold winter sports events now. We will hold several events like a national ski championship, Gulmarg derby, snow cycling and cross-country run (in Gulmarg),” said Director, Tourism, Mahmood Ahmad Shah. As the…

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Dearth of funds, road digging hits PDD’s underground cabling project

Editor

The Power Development Department (PDD) is unable to carry out the underground cabling of power lines in the state due to shortage of funds and frequent road digging. According to officials, the underground cabling has been approved for the tourist areas of Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonmarg and Patnitop. They said the government has not given the clearance for other places across the state in view of shortage of funds and frequent road digging. The under-ground cabling is cost intensive. The officials said they have been constrained to start the work in…

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Kashmiri walnut to be declared organic, officially

Editor

Walnut in Kashmir is set to get organic certificate as the Horticulture Department has observed that most of the walnut grown in the Valley is raised organically with no chemical given to it. Organic certified crops have been in high demand as pesticides and fertilisers are not used and sprays with carcinogenic elements are not given to the crops. The department has formed clusters in each district, the number of which depends on the Chief Horticulture Officer. There will be between five and 10 members in each group who will…

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Walnut industry in slump

Editor

Kashmiri walnut producers and growers are presently a worried lot due to the decline in the demand and low rates. According to the stakeholders here the lack of a walnut market (mandi) in Kashmir, and huge influx of imported walnuts from California in India have become major concern for the local growers, dealers and exporters. Zainul Abideen, president, Kashmir Food Processors’ Association told KP the lack of research on walnut processing has also contributed to the downfall of this dry fruit. “While Jammu has a walnut mandi, Kashmir has none,” Abideen…

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