Jammu: Officials and traders from India and Pakistan on Thursday held a meeting here to review pace and progress of cross-LoC trade activities.
"To review the pace and progress of cross-LoC trade activities and to provide a platform to traders for mutual resolution of their trade related disputes, a joint meeting of traders and officials from both sides was organised at Chakan-Da-Bagh zero point here ", an official spokesman said.
In the meeting, it was agreed to encourage the cross-LoC trade by removing unnecessary hurdles, the spokesman said.
Deputy Commissioner Poonch Nisar Ahmed Wani highlighted the dividends of cross-LoC trade saying that its dividends go beyond commercial gains and as a part of confidence building measures between both sides it must be promoted, he said.
While underlining the need for diversifying trade, Wani emphasised for encouraging and promoting serious traders and discouraging defaulters in barter trade.
The delegation from PoK stressed for taking steps for further growth of trade and urged for regular meetings between the officials and traders to ensure its smooth conduct.
Traders from both sides impressed upon both the administrations to ensure presence of all defaulters in trade meets and also asked for increasing the number of tradable items and the number of trucks allowed in a day.
They also demanded early installation of Full Body Truck Scanners, which will increase the quantum of trade. Traders from both sides also pressed for multi-entry permit for traders to visit PoK for business purposes.
Other issues like increase in list of tradable items from existing 21 to replacement of barter system with banking system and regular meeting of traders of both sides at LoC to settle their accounts were discussed.
The officials also decided to strictly follow the time of opening of gates and agreed to adhere to national and religious holidays of both the countries, he added.
Besides, the issue of currency exchange, limit on goods carried by passengers, list of registered traders on both sides, proper labelling of scientific names on items like herbs, medicinal plants and establishing of hotline between Custodians, TFOs of both sides were deliberated upon in details.
About 143 traders, 63 from J&K and 80 from PoK participated in the meeting, organised after a gap of five months.
