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| Cross-LoC trade remains suspended | | | ARTEEV SHARMA
EALRY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, June 11: The cross-LoC trade on Poonch-Rawlakote route was suspended yet again as no truck crossed sides for third consecutive week in a row with the administration and traders continuing to lock horns over restriction imposed on imports of some items from across the LoC.
The restrictions have been imposed by the Trade Facilitation Authorities. Official sources informed, “No trade was conducted on Poonch-Rawlakote route as the traders refused to either import or export their items in protest against recent restrictions on import of ‘Ajwain’ imposed two weeks back by the Trade Facilitation Officer (TFO) as it didn’t figure in the list of 21 items approved by the Governments of India and Pakistan for cross-LoC trade.”
Sources further informed that the traders refused to conduct trade with their counterparts in Rawlakote in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. “There seems to be no early end to the stalemate as the administration has categorically made it clear that the trading of ban items would not be allowed,” maintained sources.
The Poonch traders have suspended trade on the Chakan-da-Bagh since May 24 requesting the authorities to lift ban on ‘Ajwain’ as it was not included in the list of tradable goods across LoC.
Talking to the Early Times, Sheraz Ahmed Khan, a trader said, “Ajwain’ is used for medicines and herbal products while the authorities have kept in the category of Spices. 95 percent of Ajwain is being used in medicines;” adding “Traders have suspended trade in protest against the ban. We have called a traders meet tomorrow to review the situation and to take further decision over it.”
He further said, “Initially authorities had imposed ban on import of Moong Dal and garlic. Now, the import of Ajwain has also been banned. The authorities should allow import and export of more items instead of curtailing the existing tradable items.”
Another trader said, “The state administration should take up the matter with the Governments of India and Pakistan to facilitate trade between two parts of divided State.”
When contacted, Kuldeep Khajuria, District Development Commission Poonch said, “The administration is following Standing Operation Procedure (SOP) agreed upon by the Governments of India and Pakistan in which a total of 21 items have been approved for import and export across the LoC.”
“We are just facilitator of the trade but it has to be conducted within the SOP and guidelines of Government of India,” he said.
Khajuria, however said, “Traders don’t have any item which attracts more benefit for them. I arranged several meetings of traders of both the sides. Even we arranged meetings with IB and other security agencies to provide them foolproof system for trade but they are not finding any item which attracts more benefit for them.”
“We have written the IGP security for providing more personnel so that more trucks are allowed to cross LoC for trade,” he said, adding “Several other initiatives have been taken to facilitate cross-LoC trade.”
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