KL Report
SRINAGAR
Government is contemplating to put in place fool proof system in order to check malpractices in trade done at LoC between India and Pakistan. Started with much fan fare few years ago, the trade according to officials had paved way for illegal exchange of goods under the garb of barter trade.
Aimed to facilitate connection between people of two sides of Kashmir, the government had made provision to barter goods. But according to Amritsar customs commissioner Sunil Sawhney, “many traders had been misusing the facility by trading in other items considered as third country goods.”
Pertinently the two trade facilitation centres at Chakan Da Bagh in Poonch and Salamabad in Uri districts are being administered by the Amritsar customs office.
Sawhney further said that only a limited number of items such as carpets, wooden handicrafts, fruits and other produce of two Kashmirs could be bartered under the facility.
“We have taken a strong view and have issued instructions to not allow trading of third country goods that could disturb trade sentiments,” Sawhney is quoted to have said.
While talking about the technicalities, Sawhney said that the department had taken up the issue of providing undercarriage vehicle inspection system with the government. “The government has agreed to our demand and tenders have been floated to procure the equipment.”
