Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is planning to construct a 'Kashmir Trade & Culture Centre' in the state's cultural, academic and IT capital this year in collaboration with an NGO Sarhad.

Pune Mayor Murlidhar Mohol who was present at the inaugural of Sarhad's periodic weeklong J&K Handicrafts Festival announced. The festival was held on Tuesday where artisans from the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh showcased the best of their talent and products.

"The trade & culture centre marks a revival of the country's first 'sister-city' agreement signed between Pune-Srinagar around 13 years ago. It will boost the farmers, artisans, businessmen of Jammu & Kashmir and further strengthen the cultural bonds between the diverse communities of this state and the Union Territory," Mohol said.

Present at the occasion were Kashmir Hotels & Restaurants Owners Federation President Wahid Malik, Deputy Commissioner of Police (one-III) Pournima Gaikwad-Khandare - the wife of IPS officer Satish Khandare, who is the Additional Director-General of Police, Leh (Ladakh).

Pune-Srinagar already enjoy strong academic bonds with around 250 students from the 2 UTs currently studying in various top educational institutions here, besides another 4,500-plus in Mumbai and other parts of the state, according to Sarhad President Sanjay Nahar.

Mohol said that after the abrogation of Art. 370, followed by the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown, farmers and artisans of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh suffered immensely owing to a severe drop in tourism and related activities.

Sachin Jamge, Asim Sarode, Yuvraj Shaha, Shailesh Wadekar, Nilesh Navalakha, Shailesh Pagaria, Sanjay Sonawane, Amol Deolekar, Anna Raut and Vijay Kumbhar and other dignitaries were present at the event.

(With inputs from IANS)