Rajesh Rai & Rezaul H Laskar Islamabad, Feb 15 (PTI) Taking major steps towards boosting bilateral trade, India and Pakistan tonight agreed to ease visa regime for businessmen and Islamabad assured New Delhi of moving to negative list of imports by this month-end before phasing it out by year-end making way for MFN status hanging fire for over 15 years. The two countries also agreed to allow opening of two branches of their banks on reciprocal basis for which an understanding has been reached between RBI and State Bank of Pakistan. Visiting Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma, who is leading an over 120 people-strong business delegation, said that he has discussed the issue of visa liberalisation with Home Minister and the two countries will completely revise the existing bilateral visa agreement that was signed in 1974 to facilitate travel by businessmen from both the countries. "Visa agreement of 1974 will be revised and signed...I have discussed this matter with the Home Minister. Commerce, Home and External Affairs secretaries are in the final stages of deliberations," Sharma told reporters here. The Joint Working Group (JWG) set up by the two countries to revise a Bilateral Visa Agreement in 1974, has finalised a draft and both sides have agreed to that, he added. "Once the agreement has been made, necessary approvals have to be taken from the respective governments..This is for all people. Special dispensations would be made for businessmenÂ...for business people we are making an arrangement which we have with our other partners," he said. On the time period for signing the final agreement, he said: "We are keen to do at the earliest". He said that apex chambers will endorse the name of the people and they would be given visas. "We have nominated FICCI and CII and Pakistan will also nominate two chambers for the same," he added. MORE PTI RR RHL PAL
