Karachi, Jan 28: Building on the current thaw in bilateral relations, India on Wednesday announced the opening of a "separate window" in its High Commission in Islamabad for quick clearance of visas for Pakistani businessmen but said the simplest and direct way for stepping up trade between the two countries was to reciprocate the 'Most Favoured Nation' status to New Delhi. Making his first visit to this southern port city, considered the country's commercial capital, Indian High Commissioner Shivshankar Menon also talked about plans to run visa camps to enable more Pakistanis to travel to India.

Addressing the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), he said the Indian High Commission currently cleared business visas in three weeks to "bona fide" Pakistan businessmen.

"We are opening a separate window for business visas in the High Commission of India at Islamabad and when our staffing levels permit, we shall be running visa camps in Karachi as well," he said.

His announcement followed appeals from local people about the need to travel more than 1,000 kms to Islamabad to obtain Indian visa. The Indian consulate was closed here in 1992 following differences between the two countries. Menon is in Karachi on a three-day visit to interact with the top Pakistani businessmen and industrialists on the steps to be taken to step up trade between the two countries. Bureau Report