Both India & Pakistan Administered Kashmir officials meet for 1st time

Islamabad, May 19: For the first time in the past 64 years, civil administration officials from both parts of divided Kashmir met at Peace Bridge in Uri on the Line of Control Thursday to discuss the issues regarding the cross LOC trade and bus service.
During the meeting, both the sides unanimously recommended increasing the number of trade items, extending trade from two to four days a week and holding of monthly meetings between the traders.
“The bus service should be allowed to cross the bridge,” they also suggested.
Both the sides decided to send the recommendations to higher authorities for their approval. Hitherto the issues were being discussed at the India-Pakistan level only.
The Pakistan Administered Kashmir was represented by Director General Trade And Travel Authority Brigadier Ismail, Deputy Commissioner Hattian Bala Abdul Hameed Mughal while from this side Director Industries and Commerce Kachoo Asfandyar, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Bashir Ahmed Bhat and Trade Facilitation Officer Salamabad Nazir Ahmed Baba participated in the meet.