SRINAGAR: Minister for Industries and Commerce, Chander Parkash on Saturday said that government would ensure proper auditing, scanning and screening of the LoC trade.
Replying to supplementaries of the members in the Legislative Assembly, the minister said that Full Body Scanners (FBS) would be installed at LoC trade points including Chakan-da Bagh, Poonch, Salamabad Uri, adding that in this regard the Department has floated tenders for the procurement of the scanners.
Replying to the main question by Rajesh Gupta, the minister informed that the LoC trade through Salamabad, Uri and Chakan-da-Bagh Poonch trade routes was started on 21st October, 2008 and added that that 2,22,576.62 metric tons of goods worth Rs 2,679.89 crore were exported though Salamabad, Uri and Chakan-da-Bagh Poonch trade points till ending May, 2016. He said that 1,50,441.63 metric tons of goods worth Rs 2512.33 crore were imported thorough these trade points during the period.
The minister said that the cross LoC trade was started to be carried out on Barter system. He said that the trade has been carried out as per the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) which contains details of tradable items (21 items) prescribed by Union Ministry of Home Affairs. He said however as per the SOP no third country origin produce /products / goods are allowed to be traded between two sides of LoC. He said that the main products bartered during these years are fresh fruits, vegetables, embroidery items, including crewel, dry fruits, walnut, Kashmiri spices, honey, Rajmash, herbal items, kenos. He said that 670 traders were registered already for this trade and out of which 144 traders registered during 2014-15.
He said that steps are being taken to strengthen the Cross LoC trade including upgradation of TFCs at Salamabad and Chakan-da-Bagh Poonch. He said that revisited Agreed List has been sent to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).