Islamabad, May 22 (ANI): Pakistan and India are all set to finalise major changes in their strict bilateral visa regime during this week's secretary-level talks, which may serve as a catalyst to normalise ties between the neighbours.
Pakistan Interior Secretary Khawaja Siddique Akbar and his Indian counterpart Home Secretary RK Singh will hold talks on Thursday in Islamabad, to promote free trade between the India and Pakistan and relax visa rules for citizens, reports The Express Tribune.
"The main objective of the visiting Indian delegation is to discuss visa and terrorism related issues," said Foreign Office spokesperson Moazam Ali Khan, adding that the delegation would consist of 12 members.
According to sources, if a compromise is reached this week, the new 'liberal visa policy' will be operational after a meeting between the countries' foreign ministers scheduled for July this year.
Under the new proposed visa regime, businessmen from both countries will be able to get a one-year multi-entry visa for 10 cities of their choice. It will also enable the businessmen to their representatives to the police station of the city they are visiting, instead of them appearing in person before the police.
Common visa holders will be able to get visas for five cities. Currently they can apply for only three. Senior citizens aged 65 and above and children under 12 years of age will be able to avail 45-day visas and will be exempted from reporting to the police. Families of individuals married to a national of the other country will be able to avail two-year, multiple entry visas. (ANI)
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