Kashmir industries takes up issues with state govt; demand GST on handicraft at zero level

Kashmir, June 4 (KNN) Raising concerns of the different industries in Kashmir, a delegation of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) held a meeting with Jammu & Kashmir Minister for Finance, Labor and Employment, Syed Mohammad Atlaf Bukhari to discuss the issues.

The delegation urged the minister to raise the issue of handicraft sector in upcoming GST council meeting and bring the GST on Handicrafts to zero level in order to give boost to this industry and help improve sales.

They also urged government to help organizing exhibitions, buyer seller meets and financing liberally the artisans, manufacturers, exporters-cum-traders.

Further, they appealed for an long pending demand of an industrial package to the State of J&K on the pattern of north-eastern states. They appealed the minister to strongly push for a scheme on the pattern of the recently approved North -East Industrial Development Scheme (NEIDS) 2017.

Raising other concerns, the delegates highlighted the issue of rising air fares during peak tourism season that hinders the tourist inflow in the Kashmir valley.

They said with Kashmir having no railway link, the air travel becomes the only preferred mode of transport and those high airfares proves detrimental to the tourism sector.

Bukhari said the Government shares the concern with the chamber and that Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has already raised the issue with the concerned agencies.

The Minister gave patient hearing to the visiting delegation and assured to examine all the highlighted issues on priority and their appropriate disposal.