The agreement is meant to ease travel between the two countries, said a joint statement issued after the second meeting of the working group.—File Photo

NEW DELHI: The Joint Working Group of Pakistan and India finalised a draft of a new visa agreement after examining modalities for streamlining visa procedures at a two-day meeting that concluded here on Friday.

The agreement is meant to ease travel between the two countries, said a joint statement issued after the second meeting of the working group.

The finalised draft of the agreement will be submitted to the two governments for approval for signing of the accord at an early date.

The meeting was a follow-up to the deliberations of the JWG’s first meeting held in Islamabad on June 2-3. It took place in pursuance of the decision taken during the India-Pakistan home/interior secretary-level talks held in New Delhi on March 28-29.

Anil Goswami, additional secretary (foreigners), ministry of home affairs, led the Indian delegation and Nasar Hayat, additional secretary, ministry of interior, headed the Pakistani team at the meeting.

“The discussions were held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere. The two sides finalised the draft text of the agreement which will be submitted to the respective governments for obtaining necessary approval in order to sign the agreement at an early date,” the Indian side was quoted as saying by Times of India in a statement.—APP