LoC trade to resume on Tuesday
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 3:The stranded passengers of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Jammu and Kashmir will return to their homes on Monday through Aman Setu in Uri and the Salamabad-Chakoti trans-LoC trade that remained suspended for two weeks will also resume next week.
The decision was taken by authorities from Kashmir and PoK who met today at Zero point Aman Setu on the LoC in Uri and decided that the trade stalled after a driver from PoK was arrested for carrying drugs, would be started onTuesday.
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In the meeting, the PoK officials agreed that 116 PoK citizens stranded in Poonch will be allowed to return through Srinagar-Muzaffarabad Bus service from Aman Setu in Uri next week. And the three passengers of Jammu and Kashmir who are stranded in PoK due to continued suspension of Poonch-Rawalakote Bus service will also return through Aman Setu on Monday. These passengers are stranded after PoK authorities suspended Poonch-Rawalakote bus service last month.
The officials from both the sides took several other decisions in the meeting for streamlining the trade and prevent the drug trafficking, weapon smuggling and other illegal activities through the trans-LoC trade.
The Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Dr Nasir Ahmad Naqash stressed upon Director General Travel and Trade Authority of PoK Shahid Ahmad for carrying out the trade process in a transparent manner and ensuring stringent checks on the traded items. He said that scrutiny of trade associated vehicles should be strengthened so that all the hurdles confronting it are eliminated.
The PoK authorities assured the officials from Jammu and Kashmir Government that mechanism would be put in place so as to prevent narcotic and weapon and ammunition smuggling through the LoC trade. They told the meeting that they are enhancing the security and installing scanners and will intensify the checking so that drugs, weapons, ammunition and other illegal items are not smuggled through the trade.
SSP Baramulla Imtiyaz Hussain gave a detailed briefing to the DG Shahid Ahmad about the seizure of the narcotics from the PoK truck and arrest of the driver. He briefed the PoK authorities about the investigation being carried by police in the case (FIR No 54 /17 of P/S Uri) in which 66.5 Kgs of narcotics were seized.
The meeting decided that ISD facility will be provided between Custodians of Salamabad and Chakothi so that all issues are resolved without any delay. The meeting was informed that zero point meet shall be convened on monthly basis through which all minor issues are sorted out.
The officials also discussed that traders meeting will be organized on quarterly basis which will help in streamlining the trade process. However, more focus was given on transparency in trade so that quantum of trade increases gradually.
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