LAHORE, Feb 17: Indian External Affairs Minister Kunwar Natwar Singh on Thursday separately called on the Punjab governor and the chief minister here.

Mr Singh told Khalid Maqbool at the Governor's House that some BJP leaders criticized the permission granted to Kashmiris to cross the border without Indian passport though it was their proposal.

The Indian minister said his government would issue 8,000 visas to Pakistanis for the Mohali cricket match. A special window would be set up at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad for the purpose. A camp office would also be established in Lahore to ensure that all cricket enthusiasts could get visas.

Governor Maqbool said the time was ripe for solving the problems being faced by the poverty-stricken population of the subcontinent through dialogue. The governor also gifted a Chitrali cap to Mr Singh. Members of the Indian delegation were also given gifts on the occasion.

Indian external affairs secretary Shayam Sarna and High Commissioner to Pakistan Shiv Shankar Menon besides Pakistan's High Commissioner to New Delhi Aziz Ahmad Khan were also present.

During the meeting with Pervaiz Elahi at the Chief Minister's House, Mr Singh said his visit to Pakistan had been highly fruitful. Mr Singh said his meetings with President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz were held in a very cordial atmosphere.

He said the bus service from Srinagar to Muzaffarabad and Amritsar to Lahore and sacred places at Nankana Sahib would further improve mutual relations. Mr Elahi said despite the issues existing between India and Pakistan, ways and means were being explored for confidence building and cooperation between the two countries.

Contacts at public and political levels, he said, were also helping to understand mutual problems and promoting bilateral cooperation. "The people of India and Pakistan desire an early solution of issues so that due attention could be paid to elimination of backwardness and poverty," the chief minister said.

Lasting peace in the region would result in further accelerating the pace of social development, he added. Welcoming the launch of Amritsar to Lahore and Srinagar to Muzaffarabad bus service, Mr Elahi said it would further strengthen public contact and understanding between India and Pakistan.

Mr Shayam Saran, Mr Aziz Khan and Punjab chief secretary Kamran Rasool were also present on the occasion. Later, Mr Elahi hosted a luncheon in honour of Mr Singh and members of his delegation.

PML president Shujaat Husain, National Security Council secretary Tariq Aziz, Punjab Assembly Speaker Afzal Sahi, provincial ministers Basharat Raja, Zaheeruddin and high-ranking officers were also present.