Srinagar (PTI): The trade delegation from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) returned on Thursday describing its week-long visit to Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the commencement of trade across the LoC as "successful".

The highlight of the interaction between the traders from either side of the Line of Control (LoC) was the formation of a joint chamber named Federation of Jammu and Kashmir Chamber of Industries and Commerce to facilitate trade.

The body comprising 32 members with 16 members from POK and eight each from Jammu and Srinagar will be headed by Zulfikar Abbasi who led the visiting delegation and two vice presidents, one each from Jammu and Srinagar for two years.

The cross-border trade is scheduled to start on October 21.

The 19-member delegation which was here to interact with their counterparts on this side of the border, assess the preparations for border trade and make its suggestions, returned home aboard 'Carvan-e-Aman' (peace bus) which rolled as per schedule, official sources said.

As many as 83 passengers also crossed sides at 'Aman Sethu' (peace bridge) connecting Srinagar and Muzaffarabad in Uri sector of Baramulla district in North Kashmir, the sources said.

Before their departure, the traders led by Abassi met members of Sopore Fruit Growers Association and described their week-long visit to the state as "successful".

Besides the trade delegation, others who crossed sides at the Kaman post included 70 fresh and 13 returnees, the sources said.

While 47 passengers including 35 fresh and 12 returnees left Srinagar aboard Carvan-e-Aman amid tight security, 36 passengers, who included one returnee, came from across the border, the sources said.