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Cross border trade dips in J&K | There is dip in the cross border trade from Pakistan administered Kashmir to Jammu and Kashmir through the Chakan-da-Bagh border, which has upset one of the major bilateral confidence-building modes to
improve ties between New Delhi and Islamabad. Speaking to mediapersons at Poonch
trade centre here on Wednesday, a trader said that they have incurred losses,
and that border trade has lost momentum, as out of the list of 21 items, only
two or three items are being exported. "The reason is that trade began for the
21 items mentioned in the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) list and instead
of increasing the number of items, the items were decreased and now only two or
three items are being exported,” Abdul Gani Dewan, a local trader said. He added
that the Home Secretary R.K. Singh, during his recent visit to the region had
promised additions to the list but no changes have been effected yet. “He (R.K.
Singh) had said that more items would be added to that list but neither the number
of items has increased and nor is the SOP list being followed. Only two-three
items are being exported. Bananas were being exported but due to the summer season,
either the exported bananas are being sent back from, Pakistan or the produce
is getting damaged. Garlic has also been sent back, so the traders are incurring
losses," Dewan said. Trade Facilitating Officer (TFO), Chakan-da-Bagh, Poonch,
Abdul Hameed Sheikh, clarified that the Indian government had not imposed any
ban and the 21 items mentioned in the list can be exported. "There is no ban on
the 21 items mentioned in the list, it is agreed from the side of the government.
However, if a ban is imposed by the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), then it is
not in our control. There is no ban on the 21 items from the Indian side, those
items produced in Jammu and Kashmir would be exported," Sheikh said. The trade
started in 2008 after the Kashmiris demanded for an alternative trade route for
business purpose. Another aim of the cross border trade was to initiate contact
between people living in both the regions and promote peace.
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