JK-PoK biz worth reaches Rs 300 cr in 2 years of trade-21/10/2010

By Agencies, 21/10/2010


The cross-border trade between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) on Thursday completed two years as the trade volume on the Srinagar--Muzaffarabad route reached nearly Rs 300 crore since October 2008.

The trade between the divided parts of the state, which was flagged off by the governor N N Vohra, has grown in terms of volume, value and number of items exchanged through trade facilitation centre at Salamabad in Uri sector of Baramulla district over the past two years.

Initially, products grown and manufactured in two parts of the state with value running in just few lakh rupees were exchanged through barter system by the traders but now the weekly trade has reached an average of Rs three crore, official sources said.

However, the most interesting aspect of the trade has been the export of 8,462 tonnes of coconut, which does not grow in state to POK during the past two years, the sources said.

They said coconut export constituted around 35 per cent of the 23,070 tonnes of goods exported across the LoC. On the import front, 'Moong daal', one of the pulses, constituted nearly 60 per cent of the total goods bought by the traders of Jammu and Kashmir from PoK, the sources said.

However, the import of the Moong was banned by the authorities after they found that the product supplied from POK was actually imported from China.

The total volume of imported goods during the past two years was at 26,443 tonnes, the sources said.

More than 7,400 trucks loaded with goods crossed the 'Aman Sethu' (peace bridge), which connects Jammu and Kashmir with PoK at Kaman post.

Although traders on both the sides of LoC have been complaining about the lack of proper banking facilities, the trade has been flourishing and businessmen want more items to be added to the list of goods that can be exchanged.

Initially, only 21 items were allowed for trade by India and Pakistan but since the list has been extended to include 33 import items while 32 items for exports.

Jammu and Kashmir government has requested the central government for opening of more trading points including Tatapani, Balnoi, R S Pura-Sialkot, Keran-Bimbergali and Kargil-Skardu.

The state has earmarked Rs 40 crores for creating infrastructure and facilities like yard, custom building and allied equipment at these centres.


IndianExpress