Jammu, Sialkot to emerge as major trade hubs
Opening of border to also help build confidence between India and Pakistan
MIRPUR:
With fresh initiatives of the Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and support from Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart for opening of Jammu-Sialkot route, these two big traditional trade centres on both sides of the working boundary, are likely to emerge as international business hubs while the move is sure to further improve the confidence building measures between the two sides, said a report on Monday.
“This route, under the spirit of ongoing cross-LoC trade, was considered to be an important trade link between Punjab (Pakistan) and the neighbouring Indian-held state of Jammu and Kashmir before 1947,” the report pointed out, recalling that the people residing in Kashmir used to go to Lahore and Amritsar via Sialkot.
“Meanwhile, several bodies of traders and industrialists of Jammu have welcomed the statement of the IHK chief minister in which he remarked that he would recommend opening of Jammu-Sialkot road to the Indian government for travel and trade,” according to the report.
Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry President YV Sharma, while welcoming the statement of IHK chief minister, said that it was an old demand of traders and industrialists of Jammu. Sharma said this link had remained the traditional trade route prior to 1947 and opening of this trade link will give major boost to the economic activities on both sides. “Within few years, these destinations will emerge as international business hubs like Attari-Wagah border in Punjab,’’ he said.
Terming the move as part of confidence building measures between the two sides, Sharma said that it will go a long way in understanding political issues and making way for their resolution and healthy atmosphere.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 13th, 2012.
With fresh initiatives of the Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and support from Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart for opening of Jammu-Sialkot route, these two big traditional trade centres on both sides of the working boundary, are likely to emerge as international business hubs while the move is sure to further improve the confidence building measures between the two sides, said a report on Monday.
“This route, under the spirit of ongoing cross-LoC trade, was considered to be an important trade link between Punjab (Pakistan) and the neighbouring Indian-held state of Jammu and Kashmir before 1947,” the report pointed out, recalling that the people residing in Kashmir used to go to Lahore and Amritsar via Sialkot.
“Meanwhile, several bodies of traders and industrialists of Jammu have welcomed the statement of the IHK chief minister in which he remarked that he would recommend opening of Jammu-Sialkot road to the Indian government for travel and trade,” according to the report.
Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry President YV Sharma, while welcoming the statement of IHK chief minister, said that it was an old demand of traders and industrialists of Jammu. Sharma said this link had remained the traditional trade route prior to 1947 and opening of this trade link will give major boost to the economic activities on both sides. “Within few years, these destinations will emerge as international business hubs like Attari-Wagah border in Punjab,’’ he said.
Terming the move as part of confidence building measures between the two sides, Sharma said that it will go a long way in understanding political issues and making way for their resolution and healthy atmosphere.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 13th, 2012.