Rajouri, July 8 (ANI): Former chief minister and patron of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, has called for the opening of trade routes to connect Jammu and Kashmir with rest of the world.Addressing a rally here on Thursday, Sayeed said: "Opening of all traditional routes through Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh would help the state in harnessing its inherent potential as a business centre as it was before 1947."
He said that the socio-economic growth in the state has been stalled after all traditional routes were plugged after the partition between India and Pakistan.
He claimed that the party's self rule document aims at creating Jammu and Kashmir as a bridge between India and Pakistan and both the countries would offer tariff reductions and develop this belt as Free Trade zone.
"Development of this area as free trade zone would attract maximum foreign direct investment," he added.
He also demanded opening of Chhamb Jourian-Mirpur, Nowshere-Mirpur-Kotli and Teetwal-Chilhan routes and other routes to exploit the full potential of this region.
He also emphasized on expanding the scope of trans LoC trade and travel and argued that to make the historic 2005 initiatives more meaningful it is necessary to remove the hassles in the movement of goods and passengers.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Shah Geelani said the talks and discussions initiated by the central government are of no use in resolving the issues plaguing the state.
"There is no outcome of talks. Since March 23, 1952 the dialogue process is in progress. More than 150 times, the dialogues and conferences have taken place on different issues, yet we have not inched any closer to resolving the issue of Jammu and Kashmir," said Geelani. (ANI)
|
|
Comments:
