Kashmiri silken carpets will soon adorn the markets across the LoC. A business delegation from PoK is arriving soon to discuss the modalities for the trade.
SRINAGAR: The famous Kashmiri silken carpets will soon adorn the markets across the Line of Control. Thanks to the peace process, a business delegation from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) is arriving soon to discuss the modalities for the cross-border trade.
Kashmir Inc is expecting to boost their exports worth Rs 200 to 300 crore in the initial phase. Silken carpets, pashmina shawls, cement, marbles, spices, PVC pipes, mineral water and fruits are some of the products which the Kshmiri traders are banking on.
“The 28-member delegation from PoK was to arrive in March. But due to the technical hiccups, it was postponed. Now the delegation has again applied for the permission, and we hope to receive them in May,” said Mubeen Shah, president of KCCI. Kashmiri Inc are eying the Middle East corridor through Pakistan for bolstering the international trade.
“We are not focusing only on Pakistan for trade. Our aim is to use Pakistan as a corridor to trade with Middle East and the central Asian countries. Our products are very much in demand and Pakistan can become a transit route to some of the countries,” said Shah. Industrialists of Kashmir have given a list of 46 items to the government which could be exported to Pakistan initially.
“We have forwarded a list of 19 people to the government for permission to visit PoK for discussing trade. We have also sent a list of 46 items which can be exported to Pakistan from Kashmir. But so far, we have not received any official communiqué on this,” said Afaq Qadiri, secretary of the Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir (FCIK).
Jammu and Kashmir Finance Minister Tariq Hamid Qarra said they are hoping that the trade link between the two parts of Kashmir can bolster the business on both sides and bring the people closer.
“We’ve short-listed some items for export. Our party believes that trade should be started so that it can build confidence among the people of both sides of Kashmir. We have taken up the issue in the working group set-up by the Prime Minister after a round table conference,” he said.
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