India awaits nod from Pak on JK businessmen visit

Srinagar, July 2: India is awaiting the clearance from Pakistan on the visit of more than 70 Jammu and Kashmir businessmen to cross the Line of Control (LoC), Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has said.

After inspecting the truck terminal, custom and immigration offices at Salamabad in border area of Uri, he said the list of more than 70 tradesmen of Jammu and Kashmir had been forwarded to the Pakistan authorities six months ago for clearance to visit Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

''We are still awaiting the clearance,'' Mr Azad added.

He said it was decided in one of the meetings between India and Pakistan that representatives of the Chambers of Commerce from Jammu and Kashmir and PoK will have an interaction to work out detailed modalities for starting the trade between the two sides.

''The impression was given that the group of businessmen will first arrive from PoK. But, no group has so far arrived and neither their names have been received,'' the Chief Minister added.

He said the opening of trade route between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad would prove a landmark in the economic history of Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr Azad was told that 50 kanals (2.5 hectares) of land had been earmarked for construction of a building for cross-border passengers and a truck terminal.

In the background of good landscape, the high standard building for accommodating the passengers and the truck terminal should be constructed to cater to the continuous flow of trucks carrying goods on both sides of the LoC and people visiting the two sides, he said.

The Chief Minister said the truck terminal should be equipped with X-ray facilities, godowns, weigh-bridge, residential accommodation, office complex for immigration and custom staff, healthcare facilities and a telephone booth.

He said it was the result Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's personal interest that the trade was getting a boost in the state.

UNI