Chaudhry Zaka Ashraf, former Chairman of Pakistan Sugar Mills Association and sitting Executive Committee Member LCCI, has said that undue delay in the issuance of visas to Pakistani businessmen by the Indian Embassy is causing problems for the business community.
In a letter sent to India High Commission, Zaka has pointed out that the visa cases of Pakistani businessmen are lying pending at the Indian Embassy without any plausible reason since August 2003.
Urging the Indian High Commission to direct the visa section to expedite the issuance of visa to Pakistani businessmen, Zaka said that the Indian Embassy was ignoring the visa application bearing recommendations both from Saarc and Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
He explained that the Pakistani wholesale dealers and distributors of a lot of Western as well as US companies with their regional office in India have no other option but to visit that country for meeting their principals.
Now that the air links are restored, Pakistani businessmen should not be bothered and go through the old routine of meeting their principals either in Dubai or Sri Lanka, he added.
Zaka demanded that the Indian Embassy should facilitate Pakistani businessmen by issuing visas at the earliest, as undue delay may compel the Western and the US multinationals to shift their offices in Dubai or somewhere else.