Minister for Industries and Commerce, Chander Parkash Ganga today informed the House that the Government has taken various steps to encourage the Cross-LoC trade and travel through Salamabad, Uri and Chakan-da-Bagh, Poonch crossing points.While replying to a question of Dr. Shehnaz Ganai, the Minister informed that goods worth Rs 1496.96 crore have been exported through Salamabad, Uri and Chakan-da-Bagh,Poonch route from April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2016. Similarly, he informed that the items worth Rs 1307.62 crore have been imported through Salamabad and Chakan-da-Bagh route during the last three years.
The Minister said to boost the Cross-LoC trade, the banking plan received from Ministry of Home affairs regarding establishment of banking facilities at Trade Facilitation Centre (TFC) Salamabad, Uri and TFC Chakan-da-Bagh, Poonch has been approved by the State Government and the same has been conveyed to Union Government. Single entry permit and triple entry permit are in vogue to facilitate Cross-LoC travel, he added.Chander Parkash informed that for the development of Chakan-da-Bagh, Poonch and Salamabad, Uri, the Tourism Department has proposed development of Integrated Circuit for Border Tourism at Jammu and Circuit Development of Border Tourism at Kashmir under Prime Minister’s Special Package. Ghulam Nabi Monga, Surinder Choudhary and Surinder Ambardar raised supplementaries to the main question.