The Karachi Press Club (KPC) and the Mumbai Press Club (MPC) have demanded an end to the communications and travel restrictions between Pakistan and India.
These demands were made in a joint declaration issued by the two clubs at the culmination of a week-long visit of the MPC members to Pakistan on Saturday. The joint declaration was signed by KPC President Imtiaz Khan Faran and MPC President Gurbir Singh.
The declaration said that considering the demand for news by the people of both countries, the ceiling of allowing only two accredited journalists’ permanent station in the capitals of either country is irrational and restrictive. The quota system should be removed and all mainline publications, TV and other digital media should be stationed in both New Delhi and Islamabad.
The declaration also said that the severe travel restrictions imposed on journalists has made comprehensive and truthful reporting impossible, and journalists of both sides should be allowed unrestricted access to all parts of the two countries as long as it is in pursuit of media coverage.
The declaration added that the restrictions on distribution of print editions of publications imposed by both countries are archaic and restrictive, especially since the internet editions are freely available throughout the globe. This imposition should be removed immediately.
Besides improving media communication between both sides, the two press clubs also demanded that travel restrictions and deliberate curbs should be relaxed as soon as possible. They demanded to open the Indian high commission in important non-capital cities like Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore in Pakistan and Pakistan High Commission’s branches in Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. The declaration also demanded faster processing of visa applications and encouraging tourism and exchange between the two sides. They asked for the automatic grant of visas to categories like medical patients and those traveling to establish family contact, for education and sporting activities.
To speed up the above, the two sides have decided to set up a permanent joint committee that will lobby both governments and bring in senior members of the civil societies of both countries to ensure the widest possible people to people contact.