New Delhi: The Jammu and Kashmir government has officially closed the chapter on cross-Line of Control (LoC) trade at Salamabad in Uri, handing over the unused Trade Facilitation Centre (TFC) to the Tourism Department for development of border tourism.
The facility, which has remained non-operational since cross-LoC trade was suspended in April 2019, will now be repurposed to attract visitors and create livelihood opportunities for local communities.
The trade centre previously managed a duty-free, cashless barter system between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Instead of using banking channels or foreign currency, traders exchanged goods of equivalent value, including apples, dry fruits, handicrafts and textiles.
Introduced in 2008 as a confidence-building initiative between India and Pakistan, the trade continued for 11 years before being suspended over security concerns. Authorities had raised concerns about the alleged misuse of the system for drug trafficking, weapons smuggling and activities linked to terrorism.
The decision to transfer the facility comes as Uri increasingly attracts tourists interested in its border locations and scenic surroundings. The Salamabad centre includes accommodation facilities and could serve as a base for developing tourism-related activities.
Uri MLA Dr Sajad Shafi welcomed the move, highlighting the region’s tourism potential and the possibility of generating employment for residents affected by the suspension of cross-LoC trade.
The area’s tourism appeal also includes the Aman Setu, or Peace Bridge, at Kaman. The bridge was developed as part of efforts to reconnect the divided regions of Jammu and Kashmir before the launch of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service in 2005.
The bus service, known as Karwan-e-Aman, was established to facilitate travel for families separated by the LoC. However, both the bus service and cross-border trade have remained suspended amid continued tensions between India and Pakistan.
The conversion of the Salamabad trade facility into a tourism centre marks a shift from cross-border economic exchange towards local tourism development.
