JKJCCI urged JK Guv to intervene in restoring cross-LoC trade

A delegation of Jammu and Kashmir Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industries (JKJCCI) today urged Governor N N Vohra to intervene in restoration of cross Line of Control trade along Poonch-Rawalakote route, which has been suspended for past eight weeks now.
JKJCCI joint president Rakesh Gupta-led delegation, which called on Vohra here, appealed for Governor's urgent intervention in restoring trade on the Poonch-Rawalakote route which has remained suspended for the past over eight weeks, leading to huge losses to the traders, a spokesman of the Raj Bhawan said.
For making this trade more transparent and accountable, the delegation suggested revisiting the application of GST on LoC trade so that it is taxed at a minimal percentage which too can be reimbursed on the same pattern as applies to the incentives being given for the promotion of industry in J&K.

In the light of the recent NIA raids, the delegation said corrective measures need to be taken to ensure that there is no nexus between the various agencies and the unethical traders at the LoC points.
They also suggested that to ensure against emergence of vested interests no officer of any agency posted at the LoC Trade Facilitation Centre should continue for more than six months at a stretch.
Among other steps suggested by the delegation were a dedicated authority for management of LoC trade to streamline and enhance the trade, setting up a hassle free single window system for the trade and digitisation of LoC trade so that real time monitoring and evaluation of this barter trade can be done.

They called for enhancement of security infrastructure including installation of CCTV cameras, full body truck scanners, X-ray machines and banking facility be put in place instead of the present barter system with the currency medium to be decided mutually by both countries.
The governor said that he would take up their demands with the Union government and the Chief Minister, the spokesman said.