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Poonch-Rawlakote Route
Cross-LoC trade at all-time high
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Rajouri, April 2
The tension between India and Pakistan following the Mumbai terror attack has not affected the trade along the Line of Control (LoC) Poonch-Rawlakote road.

The trade, which takes place every week through the cross-LoC road on barter system, in fact, touched an all-time high since its start on October 21 last year along this road.

In fact, this week, trade along the cross-LoC Poonch-Rawlakote road touched all-time high, with traders from Poonch and Jammu exporting goods worth about Rs 11 lakh and traders from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) dispatching goods worth more than Rs 26 lakh.

The second highest volume of trade through this cross-LoC road was on March 17 and March 18 this year, with traders from Poonch exporting goods worth Rs 6.53 lakh and traders from PoK sending goods worth Rs 14.13 lakh.

With trade along this cross-LoC trade route touching new heights every week, not only are the traders who are already doing trade with their counterparts in PoK happy, but, more and more traders are showing interest in trade with traders in PoK.

“It is quite good that trade is picking up along this cross-LoC trade route. Not only is trade between India and Pakistan flourishing but it is also spreading goodwill on either sides,” said Bansi Lal, owner of Bansi Lal and Sons Vegetable and Fruit Corporation, Poonch, who frequently sends vegetables and fruits and receives the same from PoK.

Matloob Khan, general manager, District Industries Centre, who facilitates the trade along this route, told The Tribune, “It is quite heartening to see trade along this route, which used to be a traditional one before the Partition, touching new heights. Not only has trade touched all-time but what is more encouraging is that more and more traders are coming forward for trade with traders in PoK. We are expecting the volume of the trade to go up further”.