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KARACHI, Feb 2: India has sought permission to set up a camp office in Karachi for issuing visas until the opening of its consulate in the city. This was stated by Indian High Commissioner Shiv Shankar Menon while talking to Dawn at a reception hosted by Indian leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha, Jaswant Singh, for the elite of the city on Thursday night.
If the permission is granted, Pakistanis intending to travel to India through the Khokhrapar-Munabao route will be saved from undertaking the long journey to Islamabad for a visa.
Answering a question, Mr Menon said he had written to Pakistan’s foreign office in this regard and added that with the opening of a camp office Indian visa could be issued in Karachi to all people intending to travel to India on the Thar Express starting on Feb 18.
Earlier, at a luncheon hosted by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Mr Singh demanded opening of the visa office and the launch of a ferry service between Karachi and Mumbai.
About hurdles in the way of the opening of Pakistani consulate in Mumbai, Mr Menon said that residents of the building where Pakistan wanted to set up its consulate had been objecting to it for security concerns.
