India mulls one-year multiple entry visa for Pak businessmen

LAHORE: The Indian government intends to issue one-year multiple entry visas to businessmen under a proposed pact that is part of measures to boost trade with Pakistan, High Commissioner Sharat Sabharwal said today.

The business visas valid for a year would be issued once the two countries finalised a new visa agreement and the move would facilitate Pakistani businessmen, Sabharwal said during an interaction with the business community at the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Referring to the Pakistan government's plans to normalise trade ties and give India Most Favoured Nation status, he said this would help boost commerce between the two countries.

The two sides further plan to open a new trade post at the Wagah-Attari border in February next year, he said.

All these measures were positive steps aimed at increasing trade and bilateral relations, said Sabharwal.

The Indian envoy has been interacting with chambers of commerce in various cities across Punjab province.

Addressing the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry yesterday, Sabharwal said India was making efforts to settle all unresolved issues with Pakistan through dialogue.

In turn, Pakistan had showed a positive response during recent dialogue and this was encouraging, he said.

Though trade was at the top of the agenda for dialogue, all other unresolved issues were being given due attention, he added.

"Indian and Pakistani business communities are willing to promote economic and trade relations with the idea of enhancing the volume of bilateral trade between the two countries," he said.

Efforts would be made to increase trade volume from about two billion dollars to six billion dollars in three years. Referring to Pakistan's stand on non-tariff barrier, he said a team of Indian experts will visit Islamabad in the near future to discuss such issues.