Cross LoC trade encounters problems

Officials said the Pakistani authorities had violated Standing Operational Procedures (SOP),however,sources said that Customs department has recently introduced new guidelines without informing their counterparts in the PoK that resulted in the confusion.

“This week custom officials did not allow vehicles from PoK to enter Uri,” Custodian,cross LoC trade,Mohammad Ashraf Lone said. “From past two days dozens of trucks loaded with different items haven’t been allowed to cross the Kaman. As per the new guidelines introduced by the customs,the vehicles from PoK had to cross Kaman at 11 am and leave before 4 pm,” he said.

Lone said that since the quantum of trade had increased manifold,trucks could never have followed the requisite guidelines. “So no cross LoC trade took place through Kaman this week,” he said. “We hope the trade will go as per its routine next week and impediments will be removed,” he said.

Since the beginning of trade between two parts of Kashmir on barter system,cross LoC trade was picking up momentum and the quantum of trade was beginning to increasing. Recently,Assistant Commissioner Excise Yashpal Sharma had visited Salamabad where government has set up a big trade facilitation centre. Sources said the officer had asked his juniors to strictly implement the SOP. And,when arrival of trucks from PoK got delayed this week the vehicles were not allowed to cross the Kaman Bridge as army had not received clarification from the custom officials.

On Wednesday officials associated with cross LoC trade visited Kaman post and tried to sort out the matter at the local level,however,custom officials did not allow the trade as they were unable to get permission from their senior officials. Kashmiri traders have already accused Centre and state government for creating hurdles in the cross LoC trade,the fruit growers who had shown enthusiasm at the beginning of the cross LoC trade too have stopped sending their consignments to PoK. “Before the start of cross LoC trade,State and Centre government had promised many facilities to the growers. But slowly,when the process of cross LoC trade was gaining momentum impediments are created,” said Fruit Growers and Dealers Association president Ghulam Rasool Bhat.