* Traders demand amendment in SOP 
* Discuss issue with officials in Delhi
Srinagar, Jan 26: The cross-LoC trade remained suspended today with traders demanding amendments in the Standard Operating Procedure and revocation of ban on various items.
 Spokesperson of the Salamabad-Chakoti Traders’ Association, Hilal Ahmad Turki, said this week no trade would be carried out between the two sides.
 He, however, said the traders were currently discussing the matter with the senior officials in Delhi.
 “We are presently having meetings in Delhi with concerned officials of commerce ministry and other agencies with regard to cross-LoC trade. So far they have assured us that they shall consider our demands and address our grievances,” Turki told Greater Kashmir on phone from Delhi.
 He, however, added that the future course of action would be decided only after the talks reached some conclusion.
  “After we return to Kashmir, our members shall have a meeting, wherein we shall take a decision for future. But for now there would be no trade across the LoC,” he said
 He said the traders will have to consider several things before taking any decision, “for many traders are associated with this trade and this is one of the major confidence building measures between the two countries.”
 Pertinently, besides other things, traders are demanding increase in the number of tradable items and trading days in a week, license for the bona fide traders, requisite infrastructure at trade facilitation centres and revocation of ban on many items including Pakistani green gram, garlic, dates, ginger, raisin, etc.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 IST