STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: Dr Shehnaz Ganai on Monday moved a resolution in the Legislative Council to convert the Cross LoC Trade Facilitation Centres as Modern Travel and Trade Centres by urging upon the Central Government to consider greater and hassle-free to-and-fro movement of cultural troupes, students, pilgrims, patients and tourists across the Line of Control. Dr Ganai urged the government that through a vibrant cross-LoC trade, it is possible to develop the stagnated and backward economy of the state and free it from its dependency. The state which is known as the ‘nuclear flashpoint’, could become the ‘economic and trade flashpoint’ between India and Pakistan”, said Dr Ganai. She said that the State, rather remaining a source of conflict between the two countries, will become a bridge between the two. On infrastructure at each Trade centre, she said that the traders demand that there is need of a full body truck X-ray scanners at TFCs as the process of offloading and reloading for screening causes damage especially to fresh fruits whose value depreciates greatly. She urged the government to enhance the ambit of items to be exported from this side, so as to benefit the local traders and producers. Dr Ganai also urged Government to open vistas of communication between two countries to boost trade and benefit traders. “The most important step is to find a banking mechanism to replace the existing barter system, and as such we need to take steps for opening of J&K Bank branch in Muzaffarabad and a branch of the Pakistani Bank in Srinagar as this would be of great significance”, she added.
