India and Pakistan are likely to discuss, in September, a proposal to give long-duration visas to members of the business community, as also to expand the limit of visas to citizens from specific cities to the entire country.
"Pakistan and India are likely to negotiate issuance of countrywide visa instead of the present practice of issuing city-specific visas to the citizens at a meeting to be held towards end of the current month," leader of the visiting Indian Merchants Chamber, Rajesh Gordhandas Kapadia, told members of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Kapadia said he was informed by the Indian High Commissioner during the delegation's visit to Islamabad that a proposal to give visa for long period to businessmen of each other's country would also be discussed. He called for more interaction between businessmen of both countries to improve bilateral trade.
Kapadia said that it was also expected that two banks from each side would soon be granted permission to work across the border, Pakistan's APP news agency reported. He said that India wanted 100 per cent buyback agreements to allay the apprehensions of Pakistani counterparts.
LCCI chief, Mian Misbahur Rehman, said Pakistan and India have tremendous potential for bilateral trade but the trade between the two countries is marred by distrust.
"We believe that a major breakthrough in bilateral trade would come after South Asian Free Trade Area becomes functional from January 2006 and the political issues between the two countries are resolved on the principles of justice and equity," he said.
