Srinagar, Jan 21: The cross-Line of Control (LoC) trade between Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PaK) this week has hit an all time high of nearly Rs 29 crore, as 321 trucks crossed the Aman Setu (Peace Bridge) at Kaman Post.
“Goods worth Rs 28.94 crore were exchanged by traders from this side and PaK during the two-day trade this week,” officials said here today.
They said the value of the goods exchanged between the two sides this week was the highest since the trade was started on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route on October 21, 2008. The previous high was Rs 24 crore recorded in December last year.
The officials said 191 trucks -- mostly carrying red chillies, ginger, coconut and pineapple -- were exported to PaK, while 130 trucks carrying goods likes oranges, carpets and dry fruits were imported on Tuesday and Wednesday.
They said the high volume of trade, which saw 2,247 tonnes of goods exchanged, was apparently due to the two-week break caused by the traders’ boycott over the lack of adequate facilities at Salamabad Trade Facilitation Centre.
The trade resumed on Tuesday after the district administration Baramulla assured traders that the work on storage facilities at Salamabad, 114 km from here, would be completed within one month.
The officials said there will be no trade on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road next week, as the trade officials from Chakoti in PoK have cited some local problems for suspension.
Meanwhile, the number of passengers on the Karavan-e-Aman weekly bus service between the divided parts of Kashmir continued to fall as no fresh visitors arrived on both sides yesterday.
While five PaK residents returned home after spending time with their relatives in valley, four Indian citizens also returned home the officials said.
They said the drop in number of passengers was probably due to the intense cold wave conditions in the valley.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 21 Jan 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 21 Jan 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 22 Jan 2011 00:00:00 IST