Assuring full help from the Centre, Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Friday promised to remove all hurdles in the path of strengthening of cross-LoC trade with Pakistan.
“Cross-LoC trade would be further strengthened — the hurdles would be removed”, Shinde told a delegation of cross-LoC traders at Chank-da-Bagh crossing point in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.
Reviewing the cross-LoC trade, Shinde assured traders of full help from the Central government and promised them that he would raise their demands at the Centre.
The Home Minister was flanked by his J and K counterpart Nasir Aslam Wani, J and K DGP, BSF DG, Special Director IB and Commissioner Customs besides divisional-level officers of J&K.
The Cross-LoC Traders’ Panel handed over a memorandum to the Union Home Minister and also demanded setting up of a communication network between two sides, one time visa to assess the markets on both sides of LoC by traders of both sides, spot deliveries, increase in number of cross-LoC trade items and seizure of goods like almonds by customs departments.
The Union Home Minister also called for strict vigilance to stop smuggling from across the LoC.
The minister also held meetings with officers concerning the LoC trade and travel after conducting inspection of Trade Facilitation Centre (TFC).
President of Cross-LoC traders Association Pawan Anand and general secretary Krishen Singh told Shinde that trade has been virtually dying down in view of restrictions on various items and cumbersome procedures.