Div Com for hassle-free Cross-LoC trade

Chairs review meeting of officials, traders
SRINAGAR, FEBRUARY 12: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Dr. Asgar Hassan Samoon on Friday said that administration was trying its best for taking Cross-LoC trade further by making it completely hassle-free business.
While chairing a review meeting of Cross LoC-trade with traders and officials in Srinagar, Dr. Samoon said that we need to take this trade to next level by putting in place various administrative components , which would make the trade completely safe, secure and hassle-free. He said that the officials should ensure that the banking and telecommunication facilities are provided without any further delay.
The Divisional Commissioner said that the Cross-LoC trade was the biggest breakthrough in J&K. He urged officials to have a joint consultation with traders and look out for enhancing marketing prospective of the trade. He also sought the status of installation of full-body truck scanners at both trading points. He said that the facility would facilitate increase in the quantum of trade.
“Inclusion of additional tradeable items to give fillip to local industry in the state should be really looked into. We should also focus on trading our own indigenous products, which would give a big boost to the local economy,” he added.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr. Farooq A Lone, officials from SIDCO, Department of Industries and Commerce, Custodian Trade Facilitation Centre, along with Kashmir based traders from were also present during the meeting.
The meeting was also informed that 31567 trucks have so far carried goods from Uri to Muzaffarabad, while as 2881 trucks have carried goods from Muzaffarabad to Uri since 2008, amounting to a total export and import of about Rs. 3700 crore. Dr. Samoon directed officials to visit Trade Facilitation Centre Salamabad and inspect the construction work being carried out there. He also directed SIDCO officials to give the progress report and speed up pace of the construction works.
During the meeting various issues related with the LoC trade like over-loading, increasing number of trucks; rates of commodities were also discussed.