M A I N   N E W S

Cabinet clears Indo-Pak visa agreement

New Delhi, April 26
The move to ease travel between India and Pakistan for certain categories got the nod of Union Cabinet today amid growing ties between the two countries.

The Cabinet gave its approval to signing of an agreement that would allow common people from either country to visit three earmarked cities, sources said. Businessmen with multi-entry, non-police reporting visas can now visit five cities instead of three, as at present.

The provision will apply to businesspersons whose credentials are certified by the chambers on the both sides. From India, the certification will have to come from FICCI and from the Pakistani side, it will be from the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Elderly people would be exempt from police reporting, as per the proposed agreement.

The decision comes ahead of the meeting of Home Secretaries of the two countries, which is expected to take place in Islamabad in the last week of May. The agreement could be signed at that meeting if the Pakistan Cabinet also approves it.

The two countries decided to ease visa regulations during the meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari here on April 8. — PTI