Conference on cross-LoC trade soon

Symposium to be organised by Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation.

ISLAMABAD:

New Delhi-based Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation (CDR) is organising a three-day cross-Line-of-Control (cross-LoC) trade conference in Srinagar from Tuesday. A CDR statement issued in Srinagar says that delegates from Azad Jammu and Kashmir will also participate in the three-day conference titled “Cross-LoC Trade, Regional Development: Opportunities and Challenges”, Kashmir Media Service has reported.

The conference will explore future possibilities, opportunities and challenges in trade by bringing together stakeholders from both sides of the LoC. The statement says the conference will assess the socio-economic impact of cross-LoC trade over the years, with a view to bring about greater synergy between traders and concerned government departments.

It says that the conference will look at general, as well as specific issues related to cross-LoC trade. The statement says the conference will also look at the changing dynamics in Indo-Pak trade relations and the liberalisation of trade that will come into effect shortly, and its possible impact on LoC trade.

It said that the conference will also come up with concrete recommendations for meaningful changes in current trade practices. “The recommendations would be compiled and submitted to the authorities of occupied Kashmir, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, India and Pakistan,” the statement said.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 10^th, 2012.