The Hindu : National : Extension of peace, prelude to trade

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 09, 2005

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National

Extension of peace, prelude to trade

Shujaat Bukhari

Pakistani, Iranian stalls at Kashmir trade fair

BRISK BUSINESS: A Pakistani stall at the fair in Srinagar on Saturday. — Photo: Nissar Ahmad

SRINAGAR: Much before the trucks would roll on across the Line of Control (LoC), a stall from a marble firm in Pakistan has found place at the first ever Kashmir National Trade Fair along with stalls from Iran, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Centre of attraction

The trade fair, organised by Dastasgeer Artisans Welfare Association (DAWS) was thrown open here on Friday by Rural Development Minister Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed and will end on May 15. A host of traders from all over the country are participating in the fair which is attracting a large number of people.

But the stalls of Shafiq Marbles from Karachi and Goltab Malimine Industries from Iran has been the centre of attraction.

Since a Pakistani stall has been part of a trade fair in Kashmir for the first time, people see it as a significant development and a prelude to the prospective trade between the two countries. "This speaks volumes about the improving relations of India and Pakistan and we want this should continue so that we benefit from these initiatives," said Farooq Jan, a businessman.

The stall, being run by a group of traders from Delhi, has exclusive items of Onex marble — found in the Balochistan province of Pakistan. "They [the owners] wanted to come but the time was short and they could not get the visa," said Divendre, who has been taking part in such fairs on their behalf. "The response of people is good," he said. Another stall from an Iranian firm was set up today. Its manager, Sanjay, said, " People like our stuff here." There are stalls from Indonesian, Malayasian and Bangladeshi firms also. Sheikh Tahir Ahmed, one of the members of DAWS , said they had put in a lot of effort to rope in the firms from abroad to show that it was no longer the land of bullets and bombs but that "now things had changed."

"Our objective is to fight the onslaught on Kashmiri handicraft which is being replaced by duplicate things like Amritsari Shawls with a the label `Kashmiri' on them," he said. "Since the place is opening for trade with Pakistan we want more and more people to come," he said.

`More close'

Earlier, Mr. Sayeed said that the participation by the Pakistani traders and craftsmen is an extension of the peace process started by the two countries.

"The credit for this should go to the peace process initiated by the two countries recently. It could have been a dream earlier to expect that Pakistanis would set up stalls here. But it is now a reality and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh deserves full marks for it," he said. "The trade fare will also see the Iranian and Bangladeshi craftsmen displaying their works. We hope it will bring the people of these countries closer," he said.

"This is a huge fair. From clothes to luxury cars, everything is on display here. The banks have also set up stalls where they will provide facilities to the customers on the spot," said an organiser.

Though the fair is for 12 days, the State Government wants to extend it.

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