Indian visa: some suggestions

From the Newspaper Published April 16, 2012

AT a recent press briefing held after the meeting between our president and the Indian prime minister, a spokesman for the Indian foreign ministry disclosed that recommendations for a simplified visa regime are ready for finalisation during the next meeting of home secretaries of the two countries in Islamabad some time in May this year.

Some details of the new visa policy have appeared in the press for business community. They are being offered multiple visa facility of one year with exemption from police reporting and provision for free movement with the benefit of using more than one entry/exit points. This is definitely a good beginning towards improving trade relations between the two countries.

However, it is also necessary that the simplified visa regime eliminating the requirement of affidavit from relatives is also considered for other categories of people, particularly senior citizens having relations in either country. This is required to facilitate their visit and prevent them from going through the present ordeals.

It is recommended that senior citizens of above 60 years of age are issued visa on the day of submitting application as was the practice before. There should also be the provision for multiple entry/exit points and restrictions on number of places of visit should also be removed. The current practice of exemption from police reporting for senior citizens should continue.

ABAD AHMED Karachi

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Farooq Ahmed

Apr 17, 2012 03:49am

The senior citizens are on the wane. Their desire is simply to visit the graves of their grand-parents and parents. Is it not a humanitarian problem? Both the Governments look into the matter sympathetically

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Najam

Apr 16, 2012 11:01am

Additionally visa office must be set up in Karachi.

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SALAMAT ALI KHAN

Apr 16, 2012 10:35am

Yes,easy visa policy will promote good relations between two nations , poor & middle class citizens as well as senior citizens. Lawyers forum ,cultural groups,Press & business community enjoys this facilities in all regimes. I request both the Govts. to promote easy visa policy. I have applied three time with all valid documents and a simple reply is Visa not issued. I am still waiting for visa being a Senior citizen.

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G. A.

Apr 16, 2012 05:29pm

What ever happened to the Thar Express? Is it still in operation? It was a very cheap route for most Pakistanis to go to India.

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Resonable

Apr 16, 2012 06:32pm

I feel Indians have no objection for issuing visas and multiple entries and stuff like that, but our only worry is of non state actors can anyone come up with a an idea to isolate non state actors from getting visas to either India or Pakistan and not affecting good citizens of both countries . If this can be done then there is no reason to liberalizeg visa regimes of both the countries

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Ali A Khan

Apr 17, 2012 06:10am

Senior citizen or junior citizen,visa should between both the countries should be liberalised and the procdure should be made easy.Its a necessity to promote good relation between the two the two people.Me and my wife applied for a visit visa with Indian High Commission in London a few years back.After three weeks we were very courteosly asked to get a letter from our relatives in India saying that a marriege is being held or some body is dead, to justify our visit.When told that nothing of the sort was happening or had happened the application was put in abeyanc.This is humialating. And I am sure this is going on, on both sides of the border.

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Gus

Apr 17, 2012 06:12am

Most of Sr. citizens have not gone back from india, tracing their roots and then settling there. this is problem for any government. India and pakistan should form currency union and then make soft borders with green card kind of system so that people can move and work in either country ( just like US and Canada). i believe Pakistan founder envisaged that.. Gus, Virginia

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Imran

Apr 16, 2012 08:22pm

Though your points are valid, moving forward without relationship that you share the longest border with is not the long term solution either. There is a tremendous economic opportunity for both countries and above all India will never be a super power that it aspires to be without having friendlier relationships with its neibours. Having said Onus to fix militancy issues in on Pakistan and I do not see a single brave soul who can tackle this issue - we are scared of mullahs and extremists and until we can stand up to religous control of law, we are the only ones having to lose and lose BIG.

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Murtuza Babrawala

Apr 17, 2012 04:18am

Indian Consulate should be reopened in Karachi and Pakistan conulate in Mumbai. Police reporting requirements should removed as well restrictions to confine each other citizens to one or three cities. To start with Senior citizens and Children should be given visa on arrival.

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Pardesi in Amreeka

Apr 16, 2012 09:23pm

The undue hardship given to visa seekers of both nations is merely a game for the hawks on both sides. Yet, a large majority of genuine visa seekers suffer. Pakistanis in foreign countries wanting to travel to India for business travel also have to suffer such hardship, which results in very few Pakistanis travelling to India. This is not the answer, as mutually beneficial travel between people of both countries is needed, as people to people relations goes a long way in helping thaw the tensions between both nations. I dont have family in India, but have to travel for work later this year; however, I cannot be assured of a visa issuance, which ultimately will be a loss for my Indian counterparts.

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moonjely sony

Apr 16, 2012 12:21pm

how many of them will return back from India after visa expire? why Pakistan is very enthusiastic to improve the relation with India? is it new a new planning against India? nothing is going to take place, as soon next blast by Pakistan takes place,every thing will be as regular.this govt will not be in center in 2014,so what ever improvement as taken place, will be reversed back. All this years we were comfortable with out this friend ship, so lets us move as usual.

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Imran

Apr 16, 2012 08:16pm

Fine idea, but the only issue is that they are not non-state actors...one way or the other they have been supported by the state - FACT.

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