MIRPUR (AJK) - In order to promote the cross-LoC trade between both sides of the Line of Control in Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Indian-held Kashmir, coupled with the desire to bring the Kashmiri entrepreneurs from either sides of the LoC more closer to each other, an organisation with the name of Federation of Cross-LoC Traders has been formed with immediate effect.
A spokesperson for the Federation Mahmood Ahmed Dar told reporters here on Tuesday that the Joint forum of the cross-LoC traders emerged with the assistance of the UK-based NGO Conciliation Resources (CR) with support of its regional advisers to constitute the Joint Federation.
Dar continued that the formation of the Federation of Cross-LoC traders was a follow up to the Istanbul Agreement of November 2011 on formation of Joint Chamber.
“It was agreed in the Istanbul Agreement, facilitated by the Conciliation Resources, that there shall be a Federation of Cross-LoC traders to become a constituent part of the Joint Chamber”, he added.
“Though the Joint Chamber got interim representation from the Cross-LoC traders drawn from all four trading points on both sides of Line of Control totalling eight members, but coming up of traders from all points as a single organization was a challenge in terms of time and logistical”, he pointed out.
The Federation of Cross-LoC Traders, he told, is initially comprised of 60 members -15 each from all trading points on both sides of the Line of Control. “The Federation is open for expansion and more members shall be added when the traders have the opportunity of meeting on the Zero Line as per the agreed Standard Operating Procedures”, he declared.
The Mahmood Dar said that the Conciliation Resources, United Kingdom ,  is supporting the promotion of Cross-LoC trade through research work and assistance to the traders. Earlier, the Conciliation Resources, with supporter of regional advisers have brought out two publications on Cross-LoC trade and is currently in the process of bringing out a comprehensive survey report on peace-building and economic potentials of the Cross-LoC trade.