SRINAGAR: In an attempt to boost cross Line of Control (LoC) trade, Consolation Resources Group of Delhi and Jinah Institute of Pakistan is organizing a trade conference in Islamabad Pakistan on August 26.
Sources said that 43 trade union representatives from J&K have been invited to attend the conference. The conference will continue for two days in which an overall progress of LoC trade will be discussed.
Sources said that precipitants will press both India and Pakistan for the enhancement of list of items and also stress will be laid on the beginning of telecommunication and banking facilities.
Another agenda put forward would be to extend the trade for six days and trade permits should be made easy to be available for traders, sources said and added the representatives of different trade union will urge both governments for the implementation of commitments made on bilateral trade and the trade should be made easier.
At the end of the conference a joint statement will be issued by the representatives of both India and Pakistan to strength the trade and every effort will be made to make the trade a strong confidence building measures between two countries, sources said.
They added that the representative will press the both governments for undertaking quarterly review of goods and increasing the number of cross LoC tradable goods.
They will also suggest creation of additional storage infrastructure for goods and warehousing and cold storage facilities at Srinagar and Jammu for smooth supply of goods for cross LoC trade, source said.
Other demands will be accommodation facilities for the traders at the Trade Facilitation Centre, provision of canteen, medi care and office space for the traders, provision of insurance cover of goods, telecommunication and banking facilities, creation of post of DG Trade and periodical meetings of cross Loc traders, they added.
Five members of Salamaabad Chakote Trade Union, four members of Poonch Chakanabad Trade Union and different trade union representatives including, Dr Mubeen Ahmad Shah, Muhammad Yasin Khan, Shakeel Qalander, Mohammad Tariq Khan, Hilal Turky are also invited. Kashmir Chamber of Commerce, Jammu Chamber of Commerce are also expected to take part, sources added.
Kichloo chairs high-level meeting on LoC trade
A high level meeting was held under the chairmanship of Minister of State for Industries and Commerce, Sajad Ahmad Kichloo to discussed issues related cross LoC trade on Tuesday.
Officials said the meeting was held in Civil Secretariat at 10.30 am in which Kichloo discussed the LoC trade activities with different trade union leaders and the concerned officials including commissioner secretary industries and commerce.
The leaders of different trade unions put forward their difficulties of LoC trade including ban on coconut trade. They informed the minister that they suffered a huge loss of Rs 7 crore due to the ban on the said trade. The traders delegation complained against impediments being put by Custom Officials in the cross-LoC trade, sources said.
The Commissioner Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Shantmanu, Consultant cum Coordinator cross LOC Trade, Zahoor Ahmad Watali, Director Industries and Commerce, Kashmir Tariq Ahmad Mir, Director Custodian Ehasan-Ul-Haq, Presidents of the cross LoC Traders Unions, Mohammad Tariq Khan and Javed Ahmad Makroo and other officer bearers were present in the meeting.
