|
Rajya Sabha
The Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri E. Ahamed told the Rajya Sabha today that Government is aware that Pakistan Government has prescribed a period of minimum eight weeks for processing of visas for Indian nationals. The Ministry of External Affairs is also aware that Pakistan High Commission, New Delhi issues far fewer visas than High Commission of India, Islamabad.
The Minister further informed that different categories of visas that can be granted to Indians and Pakistani nationals are provided for under the bilateral Visa Agreement between India and Pakistan signed in September 1974 as modified from time to time. The Agreement provides for different categories of visas, which include diplomatic, non-diplomatic and official visas, visitor visas and transit visas. Both the Governments of India and Pakistan have been issuing visas for business purposes, attending conferences, seminars and trade exhibitions, pilgrimages, cultural, academic and sports related matters.
The Minister added that the administrative procedures and grant of visas are internal matters of the respective countries.
The above information was given by the Minister in reply to a question by Shri Lekhraj Bachani.
AK/SK/JA
|
