Pak asks India to limit trucks carrying goods to PoK

Srinagar, Feb 10 (PTI) The cross-border trade suffered aset back today after officials from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir(PoK) requested Indian officials to restrict the number ofgoods-carrying vehicles to 100 per week.

Across the border trade, which is conducted every Tuesdayand Wednesday, has been increasing with more than 325 truckscrossing the Line of Control last week.

However, the Trade Facilitation Officer at Chakoti PoKhas sent a letter to his counterpart, requesting the number ofvehicles carrying goods to Pakistan occupied Kashmir to belimited to 50 a day.

Indian Nodal officer N A Baba said, "The centre on theother side does not have adequate infrastructure to handleunlimited number of trucks... so have requested for restrictednumber of vehicles."

Officials said that since the exchange of goods at thefacilitation centres was carried out within the stipulatedtime, restricting the number of vehicles had become necessary.

Baba added that the measures taken were temporary andwould be reviewed once the necessary infrastructure is put inplace.

The total volume of the trade done has crossed Rs 450crore since it began on October 21, 2008.

As many as 204 trucks carrying goods worth Rs 14 crorecrossed the border at Aman Setu (Peace Bridge) at Kaman Postduring this week''s trade.

While goods worth Rs five crore were exported to PoK,goods worth Rs 9.18 crore-- mainly oranges and dry fruit --were imported.