Jammu Jan 13: Minister for Industries and Commerce, S S Salathia has rubbished the statement of PDP patron Mufti Muhammad Syed on cross-LoC trade, terming it “misleading” and “far fetched.”
 He said the facts and figures reveal that there has been sharp increase on LoC trade during last two years of Omar led coalition government.
 Substantiating his claim, he said up to March 31, 2009 since inception of the trade, the State has exported goods worth Rs 2.76 crore while the exports reached Rs 131.96 crore during last fiscal and this fiscal the State exported goods worth Rs 178.68 crore up to ending December only, which shows the turnover of the trade is rising sharply.
 Slathia clarified that the State has imported goods worth Rs 64 lakhs only from October 10, 2008 to March 31, 2009, while the State registered Rs 219.48 crore (in Pak currency) imports during last fiscal. And this fiscal the imports up to ending December have reached Rs 297.01 crore, he added.
 Salathia said that vision of opening Muzafferabd-Srinagar road and other LoC links has been given by towering personality Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.  He said it was Sheri-e-Kashmir who openly advocated for opening of these roads for all kind of trade and free movement.
 The Minister said that the hype given by one particular party about LOC trade may explain that why during their rule the trade was not started at all and industries figures show not a singly penny trade was conducted during their much hyped Muzafferabad route opening campaign, an official statement said.
 Salathia made it clear that the present coalition government is “determined to increase the LOC trade and strengthen the infrastructure to give the trade further boost.”
 He said the present chief minister has even urged Railway authorities to take the train to Kupwara up to LoC so that the trade is made more vibrant, efficient and viable through railway links.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 13 Jan 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 13 Jan 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 14 Jan 2011 00:00:00 IST