India, Pakistan to liberalise business visa regime

New Delhi -  India and Pakistan Wednesday agreed to liberalise business visa regime to facilitate bilateral trade and investment.

"The issue of multiple entry visa was discussed and the decision is expected soon," Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said addressing a press conference after meeting his Pakistani counterpart Makhdoom Muhammad Amin Fahim.

The new business visa regime would allow multiple entry and could be for a period up to one year, Sharma said.

According to a joint statement issued after the meeting, the two countries have agreed to conclude issue of liberalising business visas by this year.

The ministers expressed hope that a liberal visa regime would rapidly expand and strengthen bilateral economic and business relation.

"A more secure regional environment would progressively help both countries to keep liberalising the visa arrangements for business people," the joint statement said.

The business communities of both the countries have been demanding liberalisation of visa regime and the move is likely to give a big relief to them.

"More business visas should be stamped to facilitate stronger trade ties between the two countries," DHL Express' vice president (South Asia) Ramesh Natarajan had said during the business meeting Tuesday in Mumbai.