A day after New Delhi and Islamabad discussed the issue of easing visa rules for businessmen from the two countries, a senior Pakistani diplomat on Monday exuded confidence that a new agreement on the issue would be signed between the two countries soon. He added Pakistan was exploring the possibilities of importing auto fuel and power from India, and the talks for this were underway.
The new visa agreement, aimed at facilitating multiple entries for businessmen from both sides on a no-reporting basis for one year at a time, is stuck at the home ministerial level.
Pakistan high commissioner Shahid Malik said, “I hope it would soon be signed formally between the home secretaries of both countries. In the next two days, the commerce secretaries of Pakistan and India would also sort other non-tariff barriers that have already been identified.” He said the issue had been brought up during yesterday’s meeting between Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
India and Pakistan were working towards issuance of multiple-entry and reporting-free visas for businessmen as part of reducing non-tariff barriers (NTBs) for greater trade and economic ties, Malik said. Pakistan is exploring the possibilities for import of fuels like petrol and power from India, a senior Pakistani diplomat said on Monday. While Pakistan had last year allowed import of diesel from India, petrol still continues on its negative list. Meanwhile, India has also sought dates from Pakistan for a bilateral meeting between the home secretaries of the two countries after May 22 when the Budget session of Parliament comes to an end. New Delhi has conveyed to Islamabad that it is not possible for Home Secretary R K Singh to travel to Pakistan on April 16 as suggested by it for the talks since a meeting of chief ministers on internal security will be held on that day