The highly militarised Line of Control (LoC) should be reduced into a functional line of commerce and all trade routes before the partition should be reopened.
This was said by Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan on Tuesday.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the web edition of AJK’s first fortnightly English news magazine “Awam”, Khan said barter-based intra-Kashmir trade should be made through currency by involving banks so that trades on both side of the divide becomes easier and more feasible.
The premier claimed that AJK is being made into a welfare state and that they had already started work on a plan for it.
“We have made progress in the development of tourism, hydel power generation, industry, communication, transport, information technology, investment, education, agriculture, animal husbandry, the preservation of forests, environment and culture, and other sectors,” Khan said.
Khan, whose tenure will expire after the general elections that are likely to be held in the first week of July this year, also announced that his government will preserve the religious sites of Hindus and Sikhs to promote religious tourism.
“Here where we are sitting, are the remains of the sixth kingdom of Sikhs, and to preserve them, police lines are being shifted elsewhere,” he said.
He announced the formation of legal councils in every union council of AJK to make villagers aware of laws and human rights
because awareness of state laws will help them get rid of those infringing upon
their rights.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 20th, 2011.
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