ISLAMABAD, May 18: The United States is considering softening visa policy to increase interaction between the businessmen of the two countries. US Ambassador to Pakistan Ryan C. Crocker said this while talking to the officials of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) here on Wednesday.

The ambassador said he would send his visa counsellor to the ICCI to resolve the visa problems. Answering a question, he said after 9/11 the United States had tightened its visa and security policy and now it was softening this policy.

He said Washington wanted strong and long-term strategic, economic and trade relations with Islamabad. Mr Crocker applauded Pakistan’s efforts in the US-led war on terrorism and said the US desired to carry forward strong strategic and trade ties between the two.

He also praised Pakistan’s exports to the US, which stood at $2,944 million. He said OPIC was playing a vital role in enhancing US investment in Pakistan.

“We have recently informed the US companies that there are vast investment opportunities in Pakistan Port Security Operations at Karachi port as well as Gwadar,” he said.

The ICCI president briefed the US ambassador on the Pakistan- US trade ties and the problems confronting the Pakistani business community while trading with US.