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Peace activists urge Pak, India to ease visa regime
HYDERABAD, Dec 18 : Speakers at an inauguration ceremony of Peace March and Mela, which started simultaneously in Jodhpur (India) and Hyderabad (Pakistan) demanded easing of visa regime along with opening of all exit routes between India and Pakistan without further delay.
The meeting condemned the one-month delay in the opening of Khokhrapar-Munabao route and termed that opening of the routes would bring prosperity and development for the Sindh province.
The programme was organised by Hyderabad chapter of Pakistan India Peoples Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD) at Hyderabad Press Club, which was presided over by senior member of the forum and noted journalist MB Naqvi and its central general secretary Anis Haroon was the chief guest of the ceremony.
The speakers said that opening of new routes would promote brotherhood and peace in two neighbouring states as closure of routes for longer periods created problems for the residents of the area.
They said that people who were travelling to border areas of Sindh had to travel for days to reach to their destiny that was just few hours away via Khokhrapar-Munabao route.
The speakers including intellectuals Arbab Naik Mohammed and Amar Sindhu said that the opening of route from Khokhrapar would also create opportunities for the people of Thar deserted area and it would further strengthen relations.
Delivering her speech as chief guest Anis Haroon told the gathering that opening of Khokhrapar-Munabao was longstanding demand of the people of Sindh and lauded the people to people contact along with international pressure for easing the relations between two countries.
She said that both governments were pressurised by peace lobbies as people of two countries share same culture and would like to meet each other without restrictions.
She said that earlier it was announced that train track between India and Pakistan through Khokhrapar-Munabao would be opened in first week. However, she regretted that it was now announced that it had been delayed for one month.
She said poverty existed on both sides of border and it would also stress the two governments for the provision of basic facilities to the deserted border area.
She said that interior ministry of Pakistan had not yet issued permission for the peace march and mela at Zero Point border area of Khokhrapar-Munabao route on December 23.
She asked the authorities to give permission for holding these kinds of events, as Indian peace activists were permitted and would gather at Indian side of Munabao to uphold their commitment towards confidence building measures.
Speaking at the occasion MB Naqvi said that governments of both India and Pakistan should listen to the wishes and demands of the peoples and their organisations.
He said that forum had been demanding peaceful ties between two countries since 1994 and emphasised for the cooperation between India and Pakistan on all sectors.
He said that visa regime should be relaxed like other parts of the world as similar visa regime relaxation was also required all over the South Asian countries and economic and cultural ties should also be promoted among the people.
Sindh chapter president of PIPFPD, Mir Sikander Talpur and president Hyderabad chapter of PIPFPD, Zafar Rajput advocate said that opening of Khokhrapar-Munabao route would also be beneficial for divided families for the two countries.
They said that all routes including train, road and air should be opened immediately and road between last station of Khokhrapar to zero point should be constructed soon.
They maintained that opening of exit routes didn’t mean opening of borders and people of two countries would visit two countries after completing the formalities that should be eased.