India To Consider Multiple Visa For Scribes From SAARC States

New Delhi, Jan 7, IRNA -- India will consider granting multiple visa to journalists from SAARC nations, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said on Sunday. Addressing South Asia Free Media Association's (SAFMA) 8th Regional Conference in Amritsar in the state of Pubjab, the Minister said that he would soon take up the matter to sort out multiple visa issue, pti reported. He said the new Indo-Pak visa regime, which was operationalized last month, would also facilitate media persons to visit each others countries. The new pact is related to visitor, business and pilgrim visas and covers the facility of entering and exiting from different immigration check posts and exemption from reporting to police. The new agreement replaces a 38-year-old tardy visa regime signed in 1974 by the two countries. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had in his address raised the issue, saying it was of immense emotional importance. Badal also urged SAFMA to take up the issue with both the Indian and Pakistan governments. Badal also called for opening of a second trade route between India and Pakistan through Hussainiwala border, and requested External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid to take up the issue with his Pakistan counterparts. In his inaugural address Badal said a second trade route on the lines of the one already existing at the Attari-Wagah border was need of the hour to give impetus to the bilateral and cultural ties. All the physical barriers need to be eliminated for promoting people to pe