Indian team for flexible visa policy, enhanced trade

BJP leaders, Pakistani journalists for enhanced exchange of media, cultural delegation

ISLAMABAD:

Indian ruling party senior leaders have advocated the promotion of peace between Delhi and Islamabad through public diplomacy and dialogue.

“We require confidence-building measures, flexible visa policies and removal of misunderstanding between both the countries,” Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) senior leader and Delhi Study Group President Vijay Jolly said while addressing “Meet The Press” programme at the National Press Club here on Sunday.



BJP Vice-President Vijay Mehta and Delhi Study Group Joint Secretary Lubna Asif were also present at the event.

Jolly also supported free trade and economic liberalisation policy, saying free trade not only provides trade opportunities between the business communities of the two countries but also creates competition in the market for low prices. He said that their delegation had enjoyed the hospitality and love of the people of Pakistan.

Jolly urged improvement in economic and trade cooperation between both the nations to eradicate poverty in the region. We need to eradicate terrorism and extremism for achieving the goal of peaceful co-existence, he said.

Mehta highlighted the importance of people-to-people contact and trade in bringing the two countries closer.



Asif stressed the need for enhanced cooperation and contact between media groups of both the countries.

She said that journalists could play a vital role in removing confusion between the people of the two countries. Media on both sides of the border can provide a platform for furthering the dialogue process, Asif added.

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) President Afzal Butt highlighted the historical aspect of the relations between India and Pakistan and urged enhanced cooperation between media persons on both sides.

He urged media from both the countries to play its role to decrease the tension between the two countries and help eradicate poverty in the region.

NPC President Shakeel Anjum and Secretary Imran Yaqoob Dhillon also spoke at the event, calling for an enhanced exchange of media, cultural delegations and security for the cricketers.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 14^th, 2016.