Srinagar, July 14: With External Affairs minister, SM Krishna arriving in Islamabad on 3-day visit today, the Jammu and Kashmir government and state traders’ bodies are expecting a breakthrough on long pending issues hampering the cross LoC trade between the divided parts of Kashmir.  
 Minister for Industries and Commerce SS Salathia told Greater Kashmir that top officials from his ministry had called on the authorities concerned at New Delhi earlier this month and apprised them about the difficulties the traders were facing in absence of the facilities.
 The banking facility across the LoC and setting up of ISD booths at Salamabad Trade Facilitation Center in Uri and Chekandabad Center in Poonch and Truck scanning facilities at two centers were among the other issues the state government raised with the center, he said.
 Krishna would be holding deliberations with his Pakistani counterpart on a wide range of issue including trade.
 “The issues (related to trade) have to be settled between the two countries. State government can only act as facilitator. We have taken the issues with the Home Ministry as well,” Salathia said. “We hope the two governments will approve the setting up of the facilities.”
 Sources asserted that during his stay in Pakistan, Krishna would raise the issues to promote the trade across LoC.
 “Obviously the setting up of the five ISD booths on this side of the LoC to give impetus to cross-LoC trade will require clearance from Pakistan government,” they said.
 Sources said following approval from New Delhi, BSNL authorities had already started installation of two telephones with ISD facility to Pakistan in the office of custodian for trade at Salamabad and another in the office of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries here. Likewise, sources said the telephone facility would be provided to the traders from the Poonch side. “Once the issue is solved between the two countries the BSNL will activate the facility,” sources said.
 The KCCI has been since long demanding setting up of various facilities including banking, telecommunication to allow hassle free trade.
 The body has been demanding multiple entry permits to traders so that buyer and seller can frequently visit across LoC to allow the trade to grow. The trade body has been demanding that the number of tradable items from either side should be increased. Presently the trade is going on two days a week with traders demanding number of trading days be increased.
 President Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir, Shakeel Qalandar said the cross LoC trade was surviving only because of the enthusiasm shown by the traders, “otherwise in absence of the facilities the activity should have died its own death since.”
  “In absence of the banking, communication and other facilities it could never be a success,” he said.
 Recently the traders from Kashmir called off the activity for several days to protest government’s “indifferent attitude” to address their problems.
 The cross LoC trade was started in 2007 with much fanfare but soon it was embroiled into difficulties for want of necessary facilities. Even Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah last year acknowledged that the activity was nothing but a barter system and had assured that traders would be provided the facilities soon.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 14 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST