The Centre plans to liberalise the visa regime for Pakistani businessmen to make their travel to India easier.

A senior Government official said on Friday a proposal to allow prominent Pakistani businessmen a one-year multiple-entry visa which will allow them to visit up to 10 Indian cities is soon expected to be taken up by the Union Cabinet.

“The Government on both sides has been responsive on the (visa) matter. At the official level, a broad understanding has been reached. I spoke to my colleague in the Ministry of External Affairs about three days ago, and he has assured me that the (visa) proposal (is) ready for Cabinet in the next five-eight days,” the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Mr Arvind Mehta, said.

The proposal could also do away with the current rule of Pakistan citizens arriving and leaving from the same Indian city. They will also be exempted from the currently mandatory police reporting. Mr Mehta was speaking at a luncheon meeting organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India in honour of a visiting Pakistani business delegation.

Confirming that a broad agreement (on visas) had been reached between the two sides, the Pakistan High Commissioner, Mr Shahid Malik, said the concerns and views of the business community had been duly reflected in the new regime.

“You will see once it is announced and signed — it will be a quantum jump from the existing procedures. I cannot put a date to it but I am sure it will be very soon (and) entered into a formal agreement between the two sides,” the High Commissioner said.

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