KARACHI: Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria on Saturdaysaid, “There is need for taking at least small positive steps to createenvironment for major decisions on different counts,” he said during aninteraction with members of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Moving towards this direction, India has taken a “baby” step by softeningits visa policy for Pakistan’s senior citizen and the children under age of12 years, and issuing visas on humanitarian ground in some particular cases.

To a question, he said normally it took 30 to 35 days to process anapplication by a Pakistani for an Indian visa. However, the Indian missionhere tried its best to make the process easier.

On pointation that even Pakistani businessmen were issued India visas atthe eleventh hour to attend or participate any trade event, Indian HighCommissioner assured that in future they would get visa in time.

Indian envoy said he firmly believed that the neighboring countries musthave good relations with each other. “We would encourage every positiveeffort towards peace,” he re-affirmed.

He said despite many issues/ hindrances, the bilateral trade last yearfigured dollars 2.2 billion. The fact is that, the trade potential on boththe sides was more than 30 billion dollars per year.

He suggested that business communities and the general public on the bothsides should come up and form pressure groups/lobbies to push theirgovernment to work for closer relations in the two countries.

He was optimistic that both the governments had adopted positive approachand had agreed that both the countries should respect each other. He saidboth the countries had also decided to exchange the prisoners.

He appreciated Pakistan Navy’s good gesture to save India fishermen fromdrowning in the sea.

India diplomat said there should also be series of cricket matches betweenthe two neighbouring counties to normalize the environment and bring thepeoples closer.

He said Karachi was a safer place even for foreigners.

When his comments were sought on Indian stance on China Pakistan EconomicCorridor, he simply said his country’s position was very clear on CPEC forcertain reasons. However, he added, it was good to establish connectivityin the region.

President Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Muffasar Atta Malik,Chairman, Businessmen Group in KCCI Siraj Kassam Teli, Senior VicePresident Abdul Basit Haji Abdul Razzaq were also present