Cross-LoC Trade
J&K traders’ goodwill gesture;
PoK counterparts may follow suit
Day 1: Items to be sent free
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Poonch, October 17
In an effort to win over the hearts of the people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), traders from this side of the Line of Control (LoC), will dispatch all items across the border free of cost on the opening of the cross-LoC trade from the Poonch-Rawalkote road on October 21.

Traders from PoK are also likely to reciprocate this goodwill gesture and send their items to this side the same way.

Reliable sources in the district administration said the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and traders had started collecting items and would dispatch the same on the opening of cross-border trade.

Sources further informed that recently the deputy commissioner held a meeting with the traders here. The traders under the aegis of the Beopar Mandal, Poonch, had reportedly told the DC that they would collect items which were included in the list of items to be traded across the LoC and would dispatch it free of cost.

Sources in the administration said: “Traders from Jammu will contribute items in 10 trucks free of cost for the opening of cross-LoC trade whereas traders from Poonch will contribute items in two trucks. It will be a token of love to the people of PoK”.

Meanwhile, the administration today received the final list of the 21 items to be traded across the Poonch-Rawlakote road. The items include, carpets, rugs, wall hangings, shawls and stoles, namdas (woollen matting), gbbas, embroidered items, furniture including walnut furniture, wooden handicrafts, fresh fruits and vegetables, dry fruits including walnuts, saffron, aromatic plants, fruit bearing plants, dhania, moongi, imli and black mushrooms, Kashmiri spices, rajmah, honey, papier mache products, spring, rubberised coir/foam mattresses, cushions, pillows, quilts and medicinal plants.