Uri-Muzaffrabad's LoC trade 'double' than Poonch-Ralwakote

JAMMU: With LoC trade between two sides of Jammu and Kashmir touching Rs 1,026 crore in exports and Rs 1,652 crore in imports, trade along Uri-Muzaffrabad route in Kashmir has doubled than business on Poonch-Ralwakote route in the Jammu region.

LoC trade along Salamabad-Uri route in Kashmir valley was recorded at Rs 748.79 export in Indian currency and Rs 1,157.19 crore imports in Pakistan currency during 2008 to 2012-end, officials of Ministry of Industries and Commerce said here.

On the other hand, LoC trade along Chakan-Da-Bagh-Rawakote route in Jammu region was to the tune of Rs 278.01 crore exports in Indian currency and Rs 494.87 crore imports in Pakistani currency, they said.

The trade along Uri-Salamabad route has doubled as compared to Chakan-Da-Bagh--Rawalakote route during over past four years.

The LoC trade started along Chakan-da-Bagh--Rawalakote and Salamabad-Uri on 21st October, 2008.

The total trade, which took place between October 21, 2008 to December 31, 2012, is to the tune of Rs Rs 1,026.80 crore of exports and Rs 1,652.06 crore imports in Pakistani currency.

The Cross LoC trade was started as a Confidence Building Measure (CBM) between two countries as it was one of the Working Group Committee recommandation.

The trade is carried out on Barter system in the agreed list of items as per the Standard Operating procedure finalised by the Government of India (GoI).