LAHORE: Speakers at seminar demanded the need for uninterrupted and hussle-free cross-Line of Control trade mechanism for promotion of business and commerce activities the other day.
Amidst a lot of jubilation and zeal, the 9th year of Cross-LoC trade between both sides of the line of control in Jammu & Kashmir was commemorated by the business community and traders of Azad Jammu & Kashmir along with media and the civil society representatives. A seminar titled ‘Nine years of Cross-LoC trade: Challenges and Opportunities’ was jointly organized by Jammu & Kashmir Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industries (JKJCCI) and Cross-LoC Trade Union.
The seminar was chaired by speaker Azad Jammu Kashmir Assembly Shah Ghulam Qadir besides a huge number of cross LoC traders, representatives of political parties, members of the civil society and senior government officials including Director General Trade and Travel Authority (TATA) also participated in the event.
Speaking on this occasion, Sardar Kazeem, President Cross-LoC Trade Union Tetrinote highlighted the importance of the trade where he shared with the audience that the trade had reached a volume of 4800 crores this year despite it facing hurdles and interruptions because of the shelling on the Line of Control (LoC).
He shared with the audience that the trading activity on Poonch- Rawlakot route was suspended for almost four months because of the shelling but glad they’re that now it has resumed. He also requested authorities to permanently resolve issue like confiscation of trucks and goods by custom department on the account of nonpayment of duty and urge traders to maximize this opportunity to the benefit of local communities. Ch. Ghulam Murtaza, President AJK Chamber of Commerce spoke at length on the issues regarding taxation and handling of the trade by customs authorities and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
He shared that people of AJK are considered as ‘non-residents’ by FBR, so they pay a 19% GST on goods imported whereas this ratio is 17% for the rest of Pakistan. As there’s no clear custom policy for Cross-LoC Trade, vehicles carrying goods face a lot of retribution once they enter Pakistan. “It is the only mode of our communication with people on the other side, it has humanitarian angle too, we have centuries old bonds and this is strengthening our relationship” said Murtaza. He also shared that since businessmen from AJK are not considered as tax filers so they are unable to participate to compete in any tender or bid in Pakistan.
