Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR/ JAMMU, Apr 18: Cross LoC trade bodies in Slamabad (Uri) and Poonch have reacted strongly to the order of Union Ministry of Home Affairs with regard to the suspension of trade between J&K and POJK from Friday.
President of Line of Control Trade in Salamabad, Hilal Turkey said that if Government thinks the trade is being misused, they should have given them time.
“We have crores of rupees amount pending with the traders in Pakistan. Since there is barter system, and no banking involved, how can we recover crores of rupees from them,” he asked.
Turkey said that the traders will suffer huge losses as around 200 trucks, mostly with fresh fruits, are in transit in Salamabad. “They should have given us notice and at least 15 days so that we could have sent the goods in transit across”, he said.
“Then there are items pending in Warehouses. Traders should have been taken into confidence before taking such a decision. We will suffer huge losses. By this order, we will come on roads as we have huge loans taken from banks”, he said.
Turkey said, ” We welcome fool proof system and are ready to cooperate with government. We welcome that a fool proof system should be in place so that there is no illegal activity in the grab of trade. We can also help the government, how to make it fool proof”, he added.
Pawan Anand, president Cross LoC Traders Association Poonch said, they will go with the decision of the Government of India and are ready to fully cooperate to keep check on illegal activities under the garb of trade but Government should have given some reasonable time to them so that they could liquidate/ dispose off their goods.
Anand said 70 trucks loaded with goods were traded through Poonch-Rawalkote route today. 35 more trucks after scanning this afternoon, are under transit. At least these vehicles should have been allowed to be cleared. The traders would suffer heavy losses. Moreover, huge amount of our traders is pending on that side and disputed cases are yet to be settled. The Govt must come to the rescue of the traders,’ Anand pleaded.
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