The US Consulate on Thursday began interviewing the businesspersons under its 'business visa programme', which the local business community termed significant to boost the bilateral trade between the two countries.
The US Consulate has started interviewing 90-100 applicants every week at its existing "small facility", Consul at Consulate General of the USA, Tracy R Brown told Business Recorder at a function hosted by the Consulate General, Stephen G Fakan at his residence in honour of local business community.
She said the number of business visa applicants under the same procedure will be increased once the new facility begins working sometime next August. The US Consulate will also start issuing all other kinds of visas except immigration one, which the US Embassy in Islamabad will deal with, she added. She said more consul officers would be assigned at the new US Consulate so that a much greater number of applicants could be entertained.
She said a small number of applicants have appeared on the first day of the interview, hoping that with coming to know of the programme several more businesspersons will start submitting their visa forms in days to come. Tracy urged business community to make first their inquiries through the US official courier- American Express. Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry [FPCCI] President Sultan Chawla, who was present at the event, lauding the business visa programme said it will relieve the business community of unnecessary fatigue.
"It will save precious time of businesspersons and their energy, as travelling to Islamabad for visa acquisition was also financially expensive," he added. Chamber of Commerce and Industry Quetta [CCIQ] President Ghulam Farooq, who had arrived from Quetta to attend the ceremony, said that it will help Balochistan's business community go through the visa procedure easily, as undergoing such a process in Islamabad was difficult for them.
The US visa facility in Karachi will help export textile apparel export post a significant growth, said Pakistan Fashion Apparel Manufacturers and Exporters Association Chairman Dr Shahzad Arshad who was also present at the event. Pakistan's global trade of textile apparel stands at $3.8 billion annually, which needs further boost particularly at the US markets.
"Major trade obstacle for the local businessmen was getting US visa, which has now been made easier for Karachi traders," he said. Consul Sherman L Grandy, Consul General at the US Embassy, Christopher J Richard, Commercial Specialist at the US Consulate General, Malik Muhammad Attiq, Consul for Economic Affairs at the US Consulate General, Mary Elizabeth Madden and representatives of local business community were present.