KARACHI, June 10: The visit of business delegation to India has been delayed for one week because of problem in getting visa for the members, who are now expected to leave on July 3 for New Delhi by road via Wagha border.

A large business delegation led by India-Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry co-president senator Ilyas Ahmed Bilour and Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry president Riaz Ahmed Tata was earlier expected to attend the IPCCI meeting on June 27-28 in New Delhi.

Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) president Dr A.C. Muthiah invited the business delegation from Pakistan for attending third meeting of India-Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IPCCI).

As per the constitution of IPCCI, it is the turn of Pakistan to nominate the president of India-Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and for India to nominate its co-president. The last meeting of IPCCI was held in Islamabad in May 2001.

Senator Bilour told Dawn from Peshawar that the delay was because of difficulty in getting Indian visas for the delegation members. He said a request had been sent to FICCI to help members in getting the visas, and due to this reason a new date for the IPCCI meeting had been fixed on July 5, 2003.

Responding to a question, Mr Bilour hoped that all those who got visas would be accommodated. He said that so far over 150 applications had been received from businessmen.

“As per reports the issue of visa seems to have been resolved, and if it is so there should be no reason for further delay in our scheduled visit on July 3,” the IPCCI co-president added. He said the IPCCI meeting would be attended by the Indian foreign minister the secretary commerce.

Giving some details about the preparation, he said after overnight stay at Amritsar the delegation members on July 3 would leave for New Delhi and would attend the IPCCI meeting on July 5. The next day (July 6) the delegation members will go to Ajmair Sharif. After attending another meeting of IPCCI on July 7 in New Delhi, Mr Bilour said.