Muzaffarabad, Jan 6: Traders removed their nearly 120 trucks laden with different intra-Kashmir tradable items from Jhelum valley road near here on Thursday, six days after they had pulled them up there in protest against the alleged bullying and intimidation by Pakistan customs.
They took the step after PaK chief secretary Muhammad Shehzad Arbab told them at a meeting that their vehicles would not be intercepted or confiscated by the customs officials.
However, they said the movement of vehicles was conditional and trans-Line of Control (LoC) trade would remain suspended until a guarantee was given to them in writing by the authorities concerned that their vehicles would not be seized in future.
Regarding the nine trucks confiscated by the customs officials early last month, the chief secretary said that the traders concerned will have to pay 50 per cent of customs duty which was normally levied on the goods ferried by those vehicles.
Representatives of traders told the chief secretary that intra-Kashmir traders were merchandising only those items on barter basis which the Governments of India and Pakistan had mutually agreed.
However, the Pakistan customs officials had hurt their feelings by terming them as smugglers, they added.
Any ban on trade or addition or deletion of items can be done by the Foreign Office and not by the customs wing, he said, adding, in principle no tax or duty could be levied on barter trade.
Nevertheless, they said, the traders were ready to pay any duty provided the AJK government established any check-post for the purpose.
Speaking to traders, the chief secretary underlined the need of transparency in trans-LoC trade and assured the traders that he would take up their problems at the highest level.
He said a proposal for establishment of a mart in Muzaffarabad was also under consideration.
The meeting was also attended by PaK Trade and Travel Authority Director General Brig (retired) Muhammad Ismail.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 6 Jan 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 6 Jan 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 7 Jan 2012 00:00:00 IST