Srinagar-Muzaffarabad truck service likely to start from Oct

New Delhi, Sep 10 (UNI) Truck services between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad across the Line of Control (LOC) is likely to start from October, officials said here today.

The initiation of the truck service between the two sections of Jammu and Kashmir is part of the Composte Dialogue Process between India and Pakistan.

The issue of starting the cross LoC trade was raised by several political leaders, including Ms Mehbooba Mufti of the PDP, during the recent agitations in Kashmir on the Amarnath land transfer issue when the National Highway was blocked by protestors causing disruption in supplies of essential commodities.

People in the valley demanded that trade be started across LoC between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad.

Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz, who held separate meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi here today, discussed with them the current political situation in the state.

During his meeting with the Prime Minister, he raised the issue of starting the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad trade service.

He also urged that Poonch-Rawalakot route be operationalised for trade as soon as possible.

He said commodities like light engineering goods, plastics, pulses, fruit, among others, could be exported from Jammu.

UNI RB GL CS1852