JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) hailed the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Minister for Industries and Commerce, Chander Parkash for visiting Salmabad in Uri sector for reviewing the LoC trade.
President JCCI, Y.V Sharma, in a statement issued here on Friday, explained that LoC trade and the travel across LoC was basically envisaged for improving Confidence Building Measures, de-escalating the tension, bringing about peace, harmony and accord on the two sides by building strong people to people relations for creating a congenial atmosphere for starting a meaningful dialogue for solving the various issues between the two countries.
Sharma clarified that the JCCI which was constituted to facilitate trade has already submitted various memoranda to the authorities in the State as well as at the Centre to ensure hassle free trade by providing ultra modern infrastructure, banking and communication facilities, installation of full truck body scanners and providing facilities to the traders on two sides by way of providing suitable accommodation, issuance of permits and travel permissions, and addition of more items in the trade list rather also allowing all the manufactured items in the J and K State. He expressed satisfaction that the Chief Minister has vindicated their stand and expressed his readiness to address all these problems.
The Joint Chamber opined that the positive suggestions of the Mufti to discuss all the issues pertaining to LoC trade, travel especially of the cultural troops, pilgrims and tourists will go a long way to improve the situation and fulfill the objective for which this CBM effort was started.
Mufti’s view that a trade delegation from this side of LoC must visit immediately to reciprocate the trade delegations from the other side which have already visited this part of the State was highly appreciated.
In this context, President JKJCCI clarified that the request in this connection has already been submitted to the authorities and Chief Minister’s plea to the Home Secretary to take up the matter to ensure that the delegation from this side visits the PoK is a positive step which must be pursued with conviction.