Pak-India visa regime: Changes welcomed, more steps urged

Cosmetic changes alone may not be sufficient to improve the relations between the two countries. PHOTO: FILE

WPC Chairman Fakhar Zaman, while addressing the executive council of WPC, said “he was particularly happy” because the WPC had passed a resolution in 1986 for liberalisation of visas and improving the trade relations between the two countries.

This resolution was subsequently endorsed by 24 international conferences under the WPS in Pakistan, India and other countries of the world.

Zaman added, however, that the visa regime should be further liberalised and the condition of restriction of visit to five or 10 cities should be abolished, entry and exit points be done away with and the period for the issuance of visa be reduced to less than 10 days.

He said that unless an enduring people-to-people contact is established, cosmetic changes alone may not be sufficient to improve the relations between the two countries.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 13^th, 2012.