India, Pakistan liberalise visa regime
08 Sep 2012
India and Pakistan today announced the signing of a liberalised visa agreement, that allows group tourist and pilgrim visas, separate visa for businessmen and visa on arrival for those over 65 years of age.
India's external affairs minister S M Krishna and Pakistan's interior minister Rehman Malik signed the agreement in Islamabad today.
The new agreement replaces a 38-year-old visa regime that started in 1974.
The new agreement provides for issue of non-diplomatic visas within 45 days of application, although the visa period has not been specified.
Also, the new visa rules allow a person from either country to visit five places instead of the three at present.
Also, those above 65 years of age and children below 12 years of age and "eminent" businessmen are exempted from reporting to the police.
