Srinagar, April 26: The Chamber of Commerce and Industry Kashmir (CCIK) on Saturday raised key concerns related to declining tourism, infrastructure deficiencies, and rising drug addiction during a meeting with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in Srinagar.
CCIK President Tariq Rashid Ghani called on the Lieutenant Governor at Lok Bhawan and held detailed discussions on issues affecting the trade and business community across Jammu and Kashmir.
During the meeting, Ghani expressed concern over the declining tourist influx in Kashmir, stating that tourism remains the backbone of the region’s economy. He urged the administration to launch an aggressive promotional campaign, with a particular focus on attracting high-end tourists and positioning Kashmir as a global destination. He noted that any drop in tourist footfall has a direct impact on traders, hoteliers, artisans, and transport operators.
The CCIK president also highlighted the deteriorating condition of roads in downtown Srinagar, describing it as a major impediment to commercial activity. He called for immediate and time-bound measures to upgrade the road network in the old city, which serves as a key commercial hub of the Valley.
On the social front, Ghani appreciated the administration’s anti-drug initiative, describing the “Nasha Mukt J&K” campaign as a timely intervention. He extended full support for the upcoming mega rally scheduled for May 3 and urged members of the business community and civil society to participate actively.
According to Ghani, the Lieutenant Governor stressed the need for collective efforts by businesses and civil society to eliminate drug abuse from the region.
The CCIK president also raised several other issues concerning the business community, to which the Lieutenant Governor assured that the concerns would be addressed on priority, officials said.
