Cross-LoC trade an important CBM: Omar Abdullah

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said tranquility on borders was key to the smooth operation of trade activities across the Line of Control and to safeguard the life and property of people living in frontiers.

"Peaceful and conducive conditions on borders give fillip to trade activities and also enable farmers to carry on agriculture operations smoothly and without any fear," he said.

Interacting with traders after opening the Trade Facilitation Centre at Salamabad in Uri, 120-km from here, on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road, Omar said he hoped the prevailing peaceful situation along the LoC would get further strengthened.

He said the cross-LoC trade was as an important Confidence Building Measures (CBM) between India and Pakistan and more initiatives were required to ensure its further growth.

Omar reiterated the need to convert the present barter system of trade into the normal one to enable traders on both sides to get benefits.

Underlining the need for telephone and banking facilities for traders, he said his government had already taken up these issues with the Centre and would pursue these at the highest level.

The traders presented a memorandum to the Chief Minister demanding inclusion of milk and milk products, mineral water, canned trout fish, juices and jams, wheat and wheat products, sports items, Kashmiri willow, marble and gypsum in the export goods list.