Salamabad, Uri, Dec 27: For the poor porters at trade facilitation centre here the much-hyped cross-LoC trade has turned “an exploitation.” The porters at the centre, who haul, load and unload the goods traded across LoC, have not received the wages for the past many months.
 The porters told Greater Kashmir that they were running from pillar to post demanding due wages from October 2008 to June this year, but to no avail.
 “We have been engaged by the government for loading and unloading of goods traded across LoC. We were paid for the first eight months and afterwards the wages were stopped despite that we continue to work as such,” said Muhammad Younis Awan, president of LoC trade porters’ union.
 According to the porters after the start of trade they were being paid Rs 16/quintal for imported goods by traders of Valley. “While the government was paying six rupees per quintal for exported goods for first eight months,” they said.
 “We have not received a single penny for eight months from October 2008 to June this year from the government,” he added.
 According to them minister for industries and commerce, S S Slathia on the first anniversary of trade this year had promised them that their outstanding wages would be paid within a week.
  “But that too proved hoax,” they added.
 They said that non-releasing of their petty labour charges shows cold attitude of state government towards the trade.
 “It shows how ‘serious’ government is towards boosting of trade between both sides of state on this historical route opened after sixty one years,” they added.
 Custodian at the centre, Muhammad Ashraf Wani, acknowledged that the government has not released the amount which is more than rupees three lakh on account of labour charges for exported goods.
 When contacted nodal officer for cross LoC trade and deputy commissioner Varmul, Lateef-ul-Zaman Deva said the issue had been taken up with government.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 27 Dec 2009 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 27 Dec 2009 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 28 Dec 2009 00:00:00 IST