In a major initiative to build close ties with Pakistan, the government has decided to liberalise the visa regime which will benefit those persons who are married and living in each other’s countries. Such spouses may soon be allowed to get a visa for upto two years with multiple entries.
The move comes close on the heels of Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari’s visit to India where he stressed on the need for a relaxed visa regime. Both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Pakistan President have agreed that a liberalised visa regime between the two countries should be put in place soon.
The liberal visa regime, agreed upon in 2011, will now be inked during the forthcoming home secretary level talks between India and Pakistan to be held in Islamabad soon.
India has decided to make further concession for senior citizens arriving at the Attari border from Pakistan who will be granted a visa on arrival facility. Government sources said that the new visa agreement aims at building people to people contact besides facilitating movement of businessmen.
The government is also relaxing the visa regime by giving a one-year multiple-entry visa to business persons from Pakistan allowing them to visit up to 10 cities in a hassle free manner. The senior citizens, meanwhile, would be eligible for a 45-day visa on arrival at the Attari land border.
A liberalised visa regime has been in the works for some year now with the two countries deciding to set up a joint working group on the issue following the last home secretary level talks held in New Delhi in March 2011.
The joint working group of the two countries, while finalising the draft visa agreement, has sought to ease restrictions on travel across the border which have been marked by security concerns besides streamlining the lengthy and cumbersome procedure.
It may be re called that Pakistan had submitted a draft agreement on a relaxed regime in 2008 but the efforts got stalled following the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.