LAHORE, July 22: The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) has urged the American diplomats to extend drop-box facility for issuance of visas to the businessmen who have to travel frequently to the US.

The demand was made by Aptma Punjab acting chairman Samir Saigol during a meeting with Mr Alex Berenberg, vice consul, visa section, the USA embassy, Islamabad, who visited the association’s Lahore office and apprised the member mills with regard to the visa policy for business visits.

Mr Saigol stated that textile played an important role in Pak-US trade relations as out of $10 billion annual textile exports from Pakistan, 30 per cent went to the US, and of the total exports to the US, textile and clothing constituted 98 per cent. Therefore, business and marketing related visits to the US were very important. He proposed that members who had frequent travels to the US be extended the drop-box facility. Further, he said, a Fast Track Mechanism should be introduced for applicants for business visas to facilitate export-marketing officials of the Aptma member mills.

The American diplomat assured to give weightage to Aptma’s recommendation letters issued in the name of visa applicants and also allow the facility for adjustment in interview timings.

He further described the visa processing procedure and suggested that the Aptma members should apply 3-4 months in advance as it took 6-10 weeks for visa approval after the interview.

MURDERED: Owner of a donkey-driven cart was murdered over a trivial matter in Patiala Ground area on Saturday.

Latif was unloading bricks near the main gate of a house in Patiala Ground when owner Luqman came out and asked him not to do so. This led to exchange of hot words between the two. Luqman brought a pistol from his house and opened fire at Latif, killing him on the spot.