Pak poetess calls for easy visa norms

Chandigarh, Oct 11 (UNI) Leading Pakistani poetess Kishwar Naheed, known for her poetry of protest seeking gender equality, has called for easing visa restrictions between India and Pakistan.

''Not only visas, but exchange of books, newspapers and people across the borders should be made easy to give peace a real chance,'' Kishwar said at a programme organised by the Haryana Urdu Akademi here.

Haryana Governor A R Kidwai, who presided over the function, said visa regime should be abolished between the two countries on the lines of the European Union.

Ms Kishwar regretted that when Pakistan could import ginger, tomatoes and meat from India, why could not it accept inflow of books, newspapers and magazines.

The Governor said the people of both India and Pakistan longed for having cordial relations with each other and lead a happy life by forgetting the past discord.

The poetess kept the audience spell bound by her ghazals and poems. Others who also recited their ghazals and poems included Noorjahan, Sarvat, Makhmoor Saeedi, Mahender Partap Chand, Asraf Sahil, K L Zakir and Shams Tabrezi.

UNI MA VD DB1812