Pakistan and India on Thursday discussed ways to ease the strict visa regime between the two countries as a joint working group on the issue met on the opening day of a two-day meeting.
The group of officials of the Home and Interior ministries and the Foreign ministries of the two sides was set up following the meeting of home and interior secretaries in New Delhi in March this year.
The group is discussing measures to streamline the visa regime and has been tasked with examining the modalities for easing the visa procedure and to give a final shape to the revision of the bilateral visa agreement.
India and Pakistan have a restrictive visa regime that limits the locations which can be visited by citizens of both countries. The meeting will also review options for removal of hurdles in way of visa issuance to citizens of both countries.
The joint working group will discuss visa policies and was to increase coordination among the civilians of the two countries.
Pakistan’s team is led by Additional Secretary Nasir Hayat, while the Indian delegation is headed by Mr Sharma. Visas for traders will be given a high priority during the talks, an official said on condition of anonymity.
