India to propose to Pak to increase no of trading days

New Delhi, Jul 10 (PTI) India has decided to propose
to Pakistan to increase the number of trading days from two to
four for cross-LoC commerce besides multiple entry permit for
6 months for people of Jammu and Kashmir as part of Confidence
Building Measures.
The decision to make the proposal was taken at a
high-level meeting convened by the Ministry of External
Affairs here recently which was attended by officials from the
Jammu and Kashmir Government and the Home Ministry.
It came ahead of the Indo-Pak Foreign Ministers
meeting here later this month.
During the meeting, it was agreed upon to propose to
Pakistan, the decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee on
Security in September 2008, which includes increasing of
trading ties from existing two days to four days, official
sources said.
Cross-LoC trade on Poonch-Rawlakote and
Salamabad-Chakoti routes is conducted every Tuesday and
Wednesday on barter system.
The two sides are also expected to discuss the issue
of multiple-entry permits for residents of Jammu and Kashmir
valid for six months as the Cabinet Committee on Security has
given an in-principle approval for the same in 2008.
The sources said these decisions were approved by the
CCS in September 2008 but were kept in cold-storage after the
26/11 Mumbai attacks.
India may also press for introducing banking
facilities for cross-LoC trade as the volume of trade and
benefit to trading community on either sides of LoC could not
be worked out through barter system, the sources said.
Pakistan has some reservations over opening up of
banking facilities for traders. PTI SKL
DBR