Ban on cross-LoC barter of popular items: Intra-Kashmir trade body seeks revocation of order

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JK-JCCI), an umbrella body of intra-Kashmir trade, on Tuesday demanded that authorities regulating the cross-LoC trade should immediately revoke the recent ban order on four commonly bartered commodities between traders of two sides.
In a statement issued here Tuesday, JKJCCI president Javid Ahmed Tenga said that the amalgam has been advocating for adding more tradable fast selling items to the existing 21 items list to make the LOC trade broad based and meaningful.
“…but the government is instead banning the items already allowed under the system, which tends to drive the LOC traders to wall and forcing them to stop the trade,” the statement said.
The government recently imposed ban on barter of Pistachio, Apple, Charmagaz and Anardana out of the 21 agreed tradable items between the two sides.
The statement said that the body also discussed the LOC trade related issues with the Joint Secretary Home, Government of India, Gyanesh Kumar in a meeting held with him yesterday in Delhi. It said the incharge LOC trade and has sought a broad based meeting with him to be held at Srinagar by the JK-JCCI Executive Committee to appreciate and sort out the issues impeding the smooth conduct of LOC trade faster. “The Joint Secretary has assured to address the issue in a positive manner. The President has requested the LOC traders to not to go for any further strike for some time after the assurance of the officer concerned to do the necessary,” added the statement.