Jammu, Mar 31: Describing the emergence of Line of Control as biggest human tragedies in J&K, Minister for Finance Abdul Rahim Rather today said the NC-led government was keen to enhance cross-LoC interactions.
 He said in this connection various proposals were being already discussed with the Government of India.
 The Minister was delivering valedictory address after a day-long session of interactions on cross-LoC trade. The interactions ‘Cross-LoC Trade: The Forward’ was organised by New Delhi-based Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies in collaboration with Epilogue Magazine.
 The event was held in the backdrop of a publication on Cross-LoC trade brought out by London based organisation Conciliation Resources (CR) and a subsequent policy brief jointly worked by CR, IPCS and PILDAT, a think-tank based in Islamabad, Pakistan.
 The Finance Minister said that all right thinking people within and outside Jammu and Kashmir appreciate the visionary and bold initiative of the Government of India for taking up the Cross-LoC trade with the Government of Pakistan.
 Underlining the economic and peace-building importance of Cross-LoC trade, Rather said that one of the Working Groups of Prime Minister, headed by MK Rasgotra extensively dealt with the subject and recommended various measures for facilitating trade and travel across LoC for not only improving the economic conditions but also as an important step towards normalisation of situation.
 Earlier, two leaders of the business and trade community made their presentations on the event. YV Sharma, President Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industries underlined the need for taking care of security concerns while further enhancing the Cross-LoC trade.
 Annil Suri, co-chair of the Federation of Industries made a presentation on potential and challenges of Cross-LoC trade. He said that the list of tradable items should be expanded and trade should be purely market driven.
 Zafar Choudhary, Editor of Epilogue Magazine and D Suba Chandran, Director of IPCS briefed about the research background.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 31 Mar 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 31 Mar 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 1 Apr 2011 00:00:00 IST