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| September 20, 2005 | Tuesday | Sha'aban 15, 1426 |
Talks likely with India for better visa system
LAHORE, Sept 19: Pakistan and India are likely to negotiate issuance of countrywide visas instead of the present practice of issuing city specific visas to each others’ citizens, at a meeting to be held by the end of this month.
The leader of the visiting Indian Merchants Chamber delegation, Rajesh Gordhandas Kapadia, said this during a meeting with Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Mian Misbahur Rehman here on Monday.
He said the Indian High Commissioner had informed his delegation during a meeting in Islamabad recently that a proposal for issuing visas to the businessmen for longer durations would also be discussed at the meeting. Two banks from each country were also expected to be granted permission to work across the border.
He said more interaction was needed between the businessmen of Pakistan and India for boosting bilateral trade despite difficulties on political and social fronts. “Businessmen should concentrate on business, and the other problems should be taken care of at government level,” he said.
He was of the view that continuous efforts would be required for increasing bilateral trade between the two countries. To stem apprehensions of their Pakistani counterparts, they would want 100 per cent buyback agreements so that there was no danger to the economy of either of the countries, he said.
Misbahur Rehman said there was a tremendous potential for bilateral trade between the two countries. Trade had not expanded till now due to the atmosphere of distrust and suspicion, but a major breakthrough was expected after SAFTA becoming functional in January 2006 and resolution of political issues, he said.
He said India was the most important trading partner of Pakistan after independence when 56 per cent of its exports were directed towards Indian market. The trade between the two countries, however, reduced drastically in 1950 and had not increased eversince.
He said there were tremendous opportunities for cooperation between Pakistan and India not only in trade, but also in health and agriculture sectors. India could help Pakistan in setting up international level health centres and share its experience in post-harvest technology with it. Joint ventures could also be launched in software development, light engineering, telecommunication, information technology, computer engineering, bio-technology, light engineering, foundry and machinery items, metallurgy, precious and semi-precious gemstones and petrochemical sectors.
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