Pakistan, India launch new visa agreement

Pakistan and India on Friday launched a new visa agreement to facilitate travel for people of both countries and to promote bilateral contacts.

At a launching ceremony in the Indian capital, Pakistan Minister for Interior Rehman Malik and his Indian counterpart Sushil Kumar Shinde termed the operationalisation historic and in the larger interest of people on both sides, especially the coming generations. The new visa regime would become operational from January 15, 2013.

Malik, who is on a visit to Indian capital, said the new visa regime was an achievement of both the governments of India and Pakistan, which continued their efforts to achieve the goal.

The minister said there were so many restrictions and formalities in the visa system, but “I appreciate leaderships of both the countries for their interest in new visa regime and to strengthen the bilateral ties.”

He said he had come to India with a message of peace from President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and people of Pakistan as this was a way forward. “We should forget the past for the sake of coming generations as through joint efforts for peace we can bring stability and progress.”

Malik said both countries were facing terrorism, adding that “we do not want incidents like, 9/11, Mumbai blast, Samjhota Express and Babri Mosque. We just want peace and we are concentrating on that”.

On the issue of Mumbai blasts, he said the perpetrators of the incident would be brought to justice, adding that the trial of seven accused continued in Pakistani courts. “I assure the Indian authorities that justice would prevail and through strong evidence those responsible for the incident would be brought to justice.”

He said a Judicial Commission from Pakistan was required to come to India to cross examine the evidences.

Malik said Pakistan had suffered a lot in terms of economy and human lives due to terrorism, as more than 40,000 innocent people had been killed.

Sushil Kumar Shinde thanked Pakistani authorities for the cooperation and expressed the hope that the perpetrators of the Mumbai attack would be brought to justice.

Announcing the agreement, Shinde said the new visa regime had been operationalised from December 14, however, the visa on arrival will come into effect from January 15, 2013.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NEW VISA REGIME

Places of visit have been increased from three to five while in exceptional cases, visitor visa for a year could be issued in the past. Now provision has been made for issuance of visa for up to two years in following cases:

The persons above 65 years of age, national of one country married to national of the other country and children below 12 years accompanying parents.

Visa on arrival could be granted at Attari/Wagah checkpost to persons more than 65 years of age for 45 days with single entry (effective from January 15, 2013).

BUSINESS VISA

In business visa, exemption from police reporting has been granted to businessmen with an annual income above five million Pakistani rupees or equivalent or annual turnover above Rs 30 million or equivalent.

TOURIST VISA

Per new regime, the Group Tourist Visa for 30 days might be issued for travel in groups, with not less than 10 members and not more than 50 members in each group, organised by approved tour operators/travel agents. This would be effective from March 15, 2013.

New entry and exit from different designated immigration checkposts could be allowed, if indicated in application.