President, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Zulfiqar Abbasi has welcomed historic decision reached between India and Pakistan of starting cross Line of Control Trade between Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Indian held Jammu and Kashmir.
He described the decision a landmark to strengthen the economic conditions of both sides of the states besides being one of the effective CBMs to resolve all outstanding issues including the core issue of Kashmir between the two countries through peaceful means.
Talking to newsmen in his office on Thursday, Zulfiqar Abbasi, who is heading the first-ever trade delegation from AJK for Indian held Kashmir in middle of October said, the decision about launching bilateral trade between both sides of LoC will not only benefit economically Kashmiri's dwelling either side of the LoC , will also strengthen and promote the ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan.
He said that cross LoC trade will also encourage people-to-people contact between Kashmiris living at either side besides encouraging interaction. It will not only help alleviate poverty and unemployment but would prove to be strong source to contribute to the economic prosperity of entire Jammu and Kashmir. The AJKCCI President said that the bilateral business contacts between the business communities on both sides shall create a larger goodwill but would also restore the badly shattered economic conditions of the Indian held Jammu and Kashmir state.
Abbasi further said that a huge trade and commerce potential existed on both sides of the LoC that could be explored to ameliorate the economic conditions of the local population. To a question, the AJKCCI President emphasised the need of matching infra-structural facilities to facilitate this venture between the two sides of the Line of Control. Referring to the scheduled October 13-19 trip of AJK CCI's trade delegation for Indian held Kashmir, he said it is hoped that the first-ever trade delegation from AJK to occupied Jammu Kashmir during last 61 years, will prove to be a major breakthrough for strengthening the economy of both sides.
Moreover, the detailed modalities to execute the trade shall also be worked out jointly by the business communities of AJK and Indian held Kashmir during the scheduled visit of AJK CCIs delegation to occupied Kashmir.