SRINAGAR, May 17: The Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh Thursday visited the frontier district of Poonch and discussed issues concerning trade across the Line of Control (LoC) between the two parts of Kashmir.
Singh is on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir to take notes ahead of talks with his Pakistani counterpart on 25th of this month.
The trade between two parts of Kashmir divided between India and pakistan was started in 2008 as part of a series of Confidence Building Measures (CBMs). But, it has ever since failed to grow due to various obstacles.
Kashmiri traders complain that lack of banking facility for transactions and no telecom facility between two trading sides has proved to be detrimental for the trade, which has remained symbolic.
“Opening of banking channels on either side for cross-LoC trade to end the barter system and starting communication systems were among the issues we took up with the home secretary,” Pawan Anand of Cross-LoC traders Union said.
The traders also demanded that the number of items to be traded should be increased to 50 from the present 21. They have of-late alleged that the list of 21 items that were allowed for trade changed on whims of the authorities.
“Banana was taken off the list recently. they allow whatever they like and stop whatever they dislike,” said Mubeen Shah of the Joint Chamber of Industries and Commerce.
The trade on Uri-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalkote routes had recently been increased from twice a week (Tuesday and Wednesday) to four days (Tuesday to Friday). However, in the absence of increase in number of items and use of currency, the trade was not picking up, traders said.
Singh made an on-the-spot review of arrangements made for cross-LoC trade and the facilities and infrastructure required to give boost to it in the run-up to his visit to Islamabad where cross-LOC trade would be one of the main issues of discussion.
