Restrictions in Kashmir valley hit city traders

Amritsar, October 14

The trade between the Kashmir valley and holy city was hit following restrictions imposed by the Centre on telecommunication services.

Restrictions were imposed after the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A. City supplies gold ornaments, tea, fabric of all kinds, including, suiting shirting, men and women dress material, chunni, dry fruit and other material.

Subhash Khanna, a leading textile trader supplying material to the valley for a long time, said, “ Ten districts of Kashmir are 100 per cent buyer of locally spun tweed, which is used in stitching phiran, a loose upper cloth worn by both men and women, during nail biting winter.

He said traders in the Valley were forced by locals to keep their shops closed. So, they managed to open their establishments for two hours in the morning and most of them shifted their business to their houses. He added that he was in touch with them over landline phone.

BK Bajaj, a leading dry fruit trader, said, all varieties of dry fruit are supplied from here. The supply of dry fruit at the commencement of peak season was affected after restrictions.

Gulshan Arora Gullu, a leading trader, said it was not possible to supply woollens and textile to the Valley from here, but a large number of local traders have their business interests in the Valley. He said supply of fresh fruit, grown in the valley, is conveniently finding its way into the local market. — TNS