South Asian Business news and information

This kind of news item surely gives us hope for the future of South Asia. India and Pakistan are the closest neighbors but perhaps the bitterest enemies in the modern world. The citizens of the two countries have to suffer a lot to get visa. The good thing is that the governments of both India and Pakistan are now actively trying to solve this problem and introduce a relaxed system of issuing visa.

People's Daily Online reported:

The consensus on the liberalization was reached at the foreign secretary talks in New Delhi last month. A formal agreement on the policy is expected to be signed on Jan. 13 when the foreign ministers of the two countries meet in Islamabad.

India and Pakistan also have agreed to increase the number of visa counters from the existing two to three, and plan to issue over 1,000 visas daily to business people and tourists.

Under the liberalized policy, citizens and businessmen of both countries will get a seven-day open visa with no restrictions on visiting a particular city or place. They would be allowed to move anywhere.

Tourists will be offered a 15-day visa if they visit in the form of delegations or groups. Earlier, Indian and Pakistani tourists were not given visas in groups.

This is like a mini revolution. However, I just wish that both the governments of India and Pakistan implement it in the best way and put an end to the suffering of the common people of these two countries.