Poonch, Rajouri traders hope for economic boom 
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Poonch, September 28
The decision to start cross-LoC trade through the Poonch-Rawalkot road from October 28 has cheered up traders in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri.
They feel that their economic status will get a lift as the trade starts.
However, there is one complain. Majority of the traders said the state government has not told them about the modalities of trade and items.
The authorities said initially 21 items from India and Pakistan would be traded. These items will be finalised by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Jammu and that of PoK.
“It is a historical decision. It will definitely boost the economy of our districts,” said Sanjeev Mehta, who runs a wholesale karyana shop near bus stand here.
“But we have a grievance that the government didn’t display the list of items to be traded and modalities for trade. They should do it at an earliest so that we also prepare for registering ourselves for trade with PoK,” he added.
Another trader, Bashir Mughal, who runs a provisional store at Bazar Hathithan here, said it would go a long way to uplift the economic status of the traders on both the sides of LoC and will also bring people closer.
Pushkar Nath, a one time trader of Mendhar, recalled the trade practice on either side of LoC in 1962.
He said during those days, trade was carried out by the traders on either side through people living in buffer areas (no mans land).
“We used to sell Lipton tea, muslin cloth, dry fruits and desi ghee to the traders on other side of LoC. They used to sell us some dry fruits, saw sharpner,” Nath said.
“I feel happy that trade between the two sides is starting again,” he said.
When asked about the complaints of the traders, Poonch deputy commissioner Muhammad Afzal told The Tribune that even we don’t have the list of the items to be traded and the procedure to enlist.
“As soon as we get the requisite information, we will display the same,” the DC said.