Jammu Kashmir : No more items in cross-LoC trade

Demands of traders in Jammu and Kashmir for inclusion of more items in the Line of Control (LoC) trade facilities from chakka da bagh and Uri is not looking possible. Business through normal banking channels are unlikely to be met anytime soon with the “suspension” of dialogue between India and Pakistan. This trade is free of any type of taxes for Confidence building measure between both side of Kashmiri's on LOC. 

Jammu and Kashmir government as well as businessmen of the state have been seeking inclusion of more goods in the list of 21 items approved for export and import, but Pakistan government dosnt taken any final decision on this issue. There have been demands for widening the scope of CBMs and including banking facilities, instead of current barter system, telephone connectivity and undertaking trade in dollars between two sides. The cross LoC trade, which started in 2008, takes places four days a week between Tuesday to Friday. With 303 traders registered to trade in 21 items approved for export and import between two sides.

Goods worth around Rs 1,100 crore had been traded through Chakan Da Bagh and Rs 1,700 crore through Salamabad points during the last eight years.