India has liberalised visas for Pakistani national on the demand of the South Asian Free Media Association (Safma). The Association has called for revision of visa policies by the governments concerned and requested to allow free movement of media persons and products across the borders.
The Indian home minister told a parliamentary body that the government has progressively liberalised the visa regime for Pakistani nationals.
He said the government announced liberalised visa procedures for accredited journalists, academicians, professors, vice-chancellors, medical doctors accompanying patients and visitors for conferences approved by the government.
The exemption from police reporting for persons above the age of 65 and increase in number of places permitted from 3 to 12 have also been announced.
The liberalised visa scheme for Pakistani students coming to join at the school level in reputed international schools and professional courses in recognised educational institutions have been put in place since February 2005.