New Delhi: Reiterating its commitment to regional cooperation,
Pakistan has pressed for the adoption of a visa-free system among the
SAARC countries, which will help establish cordial relations among the
member states, reports said on Thursday.
A proposal in this
regard was mooted by a three-member delegation from Pakistan, which met
Indian authorities here yesterday. The idea of visa-free scheme is same
like in Europe where a single visa system is followed. The Pakistani
delegation was of the view that this system, if adopted, will hugely
benefit all member states, especially India and Pakistan.
As per
reports, the Pakistani delegation comprising Nasir Aslam Zahid, former
justice of Pakistan Supreme Court, Iqbal Haider, former law minister of
Pakistan and Karamat Ali, Director of Pakistan Institute of Labour
Education and Research, interacted with students of a school run by NGO
Sarhad, which works for the welfare of terrorism-affected children in
Jammu and Kashmir.
The delegation arrived in India to discuss
the issue of fishermen who are arrested for straying into another
country’s waters. They had visited fisherman in Gujarat, who frequently
get caught by the Pakistan navy.
The delegation pressed that by
removing visa restrictions and adopting measures like common currency,
European countries allowed people to interact and prosper. “It helped
establish peace and harmony in Europe. The countries, which were
fighting against each other, are today contributing to each other’s
economic development. Similar measures can be taken here also by having
better connectivity and communication among the SAARC countries, "Zahid
was quoted as saying in media reports. Online
