LoC traders announces 2-week strike

Srinagar: Cross LoC traders Saturday announced to suspend the trade via Salamabad-Chakoti crossing point for two weeks in demand for market viable items as part of the Standing Operating Procedures (SOPs), maintaining that the present list of items were unprofitable.
“The trade is nearing 3-years completion and except from tall claims of major CBM between India and Pakistan, both countries are doing nothing while traders continue to be victimised on the ground,” Hilal Ahmad Turki, general secretary Salamabad-Chakoti Traders Association told.
“Traders have suffered a lot and eventually may not sustain the trade. How long shall carry on bearing losses?”
He said that the traders have been repeatedly demanding change in the list of approved items as part of the SOPs.
“There are still indistinguishable items in the approved list. We demand government to put those items in the list that bring about profit to us and let the trade blossom.”
Turki also demanded revocation of Value Added Tax (VAT) on trade between two parts of the divided Kashmir.
“It is barter a system and there no transaction of money involved. Six months ago, state government issued a circular implementing tax and VAT despite the fact that we have no sale point.”
Turki said keeping in view the ground situation; VAT should not be imposed on the cross-LoC trade.
The trade was started with fanfare after 60 years on October 21, 2008 last through the Poonch-Rawalakot and Srinagar-Muzaffarabad routes. It takes place on every Tuesday and Wednesday from both these routes.