By IRNA,
Srinagar:Like rest of the businesses trade between two divided parts of Kashmir has also suffered losses worth millions of Rupees due to the ongoing crisis.
The two sides had traded goods worth Rs 356 crore (8 million $) during the last financial year.
The value of the cross LoC trade between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad during the last financial has been to the tune of over Rs 164 crore while goods worth Rs192.57 crores were exchanged on the Poonch-Rawalakote route.
Giving details Minister for Industries and Commerce S. S. Slathia told the state assembly today that the value of Rs. 192 crore includes over Rs 70.73 crore worth export to Pakistan controlled Kashmir (PCK) and Import from PCK worth Rs 121.83 crore.
Exports from this side along the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road was worth Rs71.80 crore, while the import from PCK was of the value of Rs92.41 crore, he said.
On the Poonch-Rawalkote route in Jammu region, goods worth Rs70.73 crore were exported to PCK and goods worth Rs121.83 crore were imported.
On the question of opening of more trading routes between the divided parts of Kashmir, the minister said it was a matter between India and Pakistan.
Responding to a question about banning of import and export of profitable items, the minister said the goods produced in the respective countries were to be traded along these routes. ‘How can 5,000 tonnes of garlic be exported to this side when the total produce of the country (Pakistan) is just five tonnes? It was found that the extra quantity was made in China, hence the ban,’ Slathia said.
On the question of lack of communication facilities in the absence of a phone service from the Indian side, he said that five telephone booths each with ISD facilities have been installed in Poonch and Uri to facilitate traders.
The State Government has already conveyed its desire to the Government of India to have more such trading points opened in the State, he said. He further said that Rs.40 crore have been sanctioned for building infrastructure at Poonch and Uri, adding that Rs.4.82 crore have already been spent in Poonch so far.
The minister also said that so far 2944 passengers from the State have travelled to and fro the military line via Muzaffarabad, Uri, Poonch, Bagh and other routes.
The minister also said that the State Government has been recommended some new routes like Tatapani–Balnoi and R.S.Pora-Sailkote, Keran-Bimbergali and Kargil-Skardu to facilitate divided families of these areas to meet their loved ones.
Meanwhile General Manager District Industries Baramulla and Custodian Cross LoC trade Muhammad Ashraf Wani said since Eid-ul-Fitr there has been no exchange of goods from this side due to the turbulent situation prevailing in the Kashmir valley.
“We have not been able to export any goods to the other side of LoC because of the disturbed situation,” Wani said “Fruits worth Rs 10 crore goes to Pak Kashmir every week but we have not been able to export anything from this side for the past several weeks,” said Wani.