Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, May 14: The list of defaulters in cross LoC trade was exchanged between traders and authorities on both sides of the Line of Control between two sides of divided Jammu and Kashmir, who met after a gap of one year at Zero Point in Chakkan Da Bagh, here today.
The meeting, organized to review the pace and progress of cross-LoC trade activities, was attended by more than one hundred traders from both the sides, who discussed their trade related problems and disputes.
The PoK side was represented by Deputy Commission Rawlakot, Masood-ur-Rehman; Director General Trade and Travel Authority, Brigadier (Retd) Imtiaz Wani, SSP Rawlakot Alias Khan and TFO Trade Facilitation Centre, Chakkan-Da- Bagh Naeem Khan.
From the Indian side, Deputy Commissioner Poonch, M H Malik; SSP Poonch, J S Johar and TFO, Trade Facilitation Centre, Chakkan-Da-Bagh (J&K), Ashram Chowdhary attended the meeting.
Names of six defaulters from J&K and seven from PoK were exchanged between the authorities while both the side agreed to encourage cross-LoC trade by removing un-necessary hurdles. It was mutually decided that traders from both sides will meet on first Monday of every month and presence of defaulters will be ensured.
Other trade related issues like temporary permit for traders to visit across LoC for exploring business opportunities and increase in list of tradable items from existing 21 to replacement of barter system with banking system and regular meeting of traders of both sides at LoC to settle their accounts were discussed. The meeting was held in an orderly and cordial atmosphere.
Deputy Commissioner Poonch highlighted the dividends of cross-LoC trade saying that it is beyond commercial gains and as a part of confidence building measures between both sides it must be promoted. He also underlined the need to encourage and promote serious traders and discourage defaulters in barter trade.
Saying that communication is key to promotion of trade, the delegation from PoK side urged for hot line between both TFCs to ensure smooth conduct of cross-LoC trade.
The delegation from J&K side demanded increase in the number of trucks to be allowed to fifty per day besides implementation of triple entry form and proper labeling of scientific names on items like herbs/medicinal plants.
Traders from Poonch were led by Pawan Anand, S Krishan Singh, Anil Phool, Rajiv Tandan, Ameen Magra, Mohd Dewan and J P Singh.
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