India, Pak to announce new visa regime for businessmen soon

New Delhi, Apr 12: India and Pakistan are expected to formally announce by next month finalisation of a new visa regime to facilitate the movement of businessmen from both the countries, visiting Commerce Secretary Zafar Mahmood said today.

"In principle, the visa things are finalised. But it needs to be formally announced and approved. This would be done by by the Interior Ministry of Pakistan and the Home Ministry of India," Mahmood said. He was speaking to reporters after the inaugural function of the four-day 'Lifestyle Pakistan' exhibition here.

Mahmood said there are possibilities, under the new agreement, that a businessman from either country would get visa for more than one year and that too for more number of cities. "We expect that the meeting (between the Interior Ministry of Pakistan and the Home Ministry of India) would take place in April or May and this would be formally announced," he added.

India and Pakistan are working towards revising the existing bilateral visa agreement that was signed in 1974 to facilitate travel by bonafide businessmen from both the countries. Mahmood said now the movement of people is restrictive wherein "a (Pakistani) businessman coming to Delhi cannot even go to Gurgaon (in Haryana)". He also said that there is need to improve the infrastructure at borders to boost the movement of goods like cement.

PTI