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

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


News Desk September 13, 2012



The World Punjabi Congress (WPC) has welcomed the changes in the visa policy between Pakistan and India, said a press release issued in Islamabad on Wednesday.


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 13th, 2012.

COMMENTS (2)

Kulamarva Balakrishna | 11 years ago | Reply

Vienna,September 13,2012 I for one demand India+Pakistan reciprocal VISA regime should be abolished. All Pakistani nationals should be able to to visit their Indian friends and relations.Similarly Indian should get reciprocal rights of visit to Pakistan without having to obtain VISA. All the same for identity purposes they should carry their valid passports in person. Taravadu Taranga Trust for Media Monitoring TTTMM India --Kulamarva Balakrishna

Arijit Sharma | 11 years ago | Reply

" ... Zaman added, however, that the visa regime should be further liberalised ... 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. ... "

Sir, you are essentially asking for the partition to be undone.

You also want more people-to-people contact. However, uncontrolled traffic will result in the Islamism prevalent in your society to take root in India and I see no reason why I should infect myself so that your affliction can be cured.

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