POONCH: 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 in Poonch on Wednesday in which 179 traders from India and PoK met.
Deputy Commissioner Poonch, Mohammad Haroon Malik, Senior Superintendent of Police Poonch, J.S Johar, Dy SP Security Chakan Da Bagh Sagar Singh Salathia, Director General, Trade and Travel Authority (PoK), Brigadier(Retd) Imtiaz Wayar, Assistant Commissioner Hajira (PoK), Shabaz Khan, ATFO PoK Mohammad Irshad Custodian TFC, Tehsildar Hajaria Ibrar Abasi, TOF PoK Mohammad Nahin, Chakkan-Da-Bagh (J&K), Tanveer Ahmed, Custodian TFC, Chakan-Da-Bagh (PoK), besides traders from Indian side Krishan Singh, Anil Phool, Daljeet Singh, Abasi Khan, Sar Qazem Khan Choudary Waqar, Imtaz Salieara, and Mohammad Ameen attended the meeting.
The meeting held deliberations between delegations from both sides. It was agreed to encourage the Cross-LoC trade by removing unnecessary hurdles. Batting to promote LoC trade, Deputy Commissioner Poonch highlighted the dividends of cross-LoC trade saying that its dividends go beyond commercial gains as it is a part of confidence building measures between neighbouring countries.
While underlining the need for diversifying trade, Haroon emphasized for encouraging and promoting serious traders and discouraging defaulters in barter trade. He said that from next week 30 trucks shall be allowed against 25 trucks as allowed earlier. “The delegation from PoK stressed on taking steps for further growth of trade and urged for regular meetings between the officials and traders to ensure smooth transactions”, an official statement said this evening.