Pakistan to consider setting up visa office in Hyderabad

Hyderabad -- The Pakistan high commissioner to India has said his government would discuss a demand from Indian relatives of Pakistanis living here - to set up a visa counter in Hyderabad.

Shahid Malik, who arrived here Sunday, was responding to people's request for a temporary visa office that could issue visas once in three months.

Many complained to Malik, during a dinner hosted by Zahid Ali Khan, the editor of Urdu daily Siasat, that those desirous of travelling to his country to meet their relatives faced difficulties in obtaining visas.

The high commissioner promised to take up the issue with the Indian government.

Malik, who took charge Jan 18, is scheduled to participate in a function at the College of Air Warfare in Secunderabad before returning to New Delhi.

Many people from this city had migrated to Pakistan during India's partition in 1947. In many cases their relatives have not met them for decades due to strained relations between the two countries.

Last year officials of the two countries agreed to increase the number of visa counters from the existing two to three. While India is keen to open a new visa counter in Lahore, Pakistan has said it would set up a counter in Hyderabad.