Trade through LoC delayed due to Pakistan

Srinagar, Aug 19: The early start of trade with Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) through Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road was getting delayed due to Pakistan, chairman of the working group for strengthening relations across the Line of Control (LoC) M K Rasgotra said.

The group, one of the five working groups set up on the directions of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the second round table conference here in May this year by the Jammu and Kashmir government has discussed the measures to make the cross border travel more easy and initiate trade.

The group during the day-long deliberations yesterday discussed the measures to ease the procedural complications being felt by the travellers visiting across LoC.

Mr Rasgotra said the decks are being cleared to initiate trade across LoC. The Government of India and the State Government have already cleared a list of 70 businessmen and referred it to Pakistan for approval, some six months back, so that the interaction between the traders of two areas could take place.

He said the delay has been on the part of Pakistan and not from this side, saying however, Pakistan has now sent a list of 40 businessmen for approval.

However, he expressed the hope that the trade will take place soon.

It also discussed measures to explore the possibilities for general public to visit across LoC and strengthen the relations and provide additional avenues of interactions.

So far only those who have relatives on either side of the LoC could visit each other.

He said the working group will also deliberate upon to identify more points and routes to be opened on LoC to provide for additional meeting points and travelling routes.

He said opening up of more bus services across LoC is also on the agenda of this working group, adding the group is meeting to workout more and more avenues of strengthening the relations across LoC and come up with concrete recommendations and suggestions to this effect.

Mr Rasgotra said the recommendations of the group would be submitted before the holding of 3rd Round Table conference.

UNI