Relaxation in visa restrictions between India and Pakistan has been widely welcomed by traders, peace activists and bodies working to improve trade and political ties between the two countries. The step would have a far-reaching impact on economies of both the countries and had been a big achievement of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) led coalition government which would result in generating economic activities and would pave the way for poverty alleviation by creating new job opportunities, they said. Pak-India Business Council Chairman Noor Muhammad Kasuri said the council had been striving for the objects for the past 10 years. He said that “Before partitian both countries were like a `complete unit’ having the ability to survive without much dependence on other regions,” while adding that the trade between the neighbors was being carried out through Dubai because of visa and trade restrictions in the past which would now become direct and would save huge expenditures on transport and shipment costs. As a result, prices of items traded between both the countries would reduce, he said. Saeeda Diep of Institute of Peace & Secular Studies (IPPS) and other activists also hailed the visa relaxations. They called the relaxation a good omen for the progress, prosperity and confidence building between both the countries. The PPP government deserves the credit for it, she said.
