SAARC discuss issues related to visa exemption in South Asia

Experts from South Asian countries today began discussions here on ways to liberalise visa, to allow visa-free travel within the region.
"The meeting is expected to pave way for the smooth functioning of the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme," said SAARC Secretary General Ahemed Salim addressing the meeting of the Core Group of Immigration and visa Experts at SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu.
Representatives from all member states are participating in the two-day Meeting of the Core Group in a bid to expand the scope of the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme.
The Scheme currently entitles limited number of people to visa-free travel within the region.

The Fifth SAARC Summit held in November 1990 in Maldives had decided to launch the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme with the ultimate objective of putting in place a visa free regime in South Asia.
"Considered as a milestone in the history of SAARC, the Scheme, that became operational in 1992, has enormous potential in enhancing people to people contacts in the region.

"Though there are presently only 24 categories of entitled persons, the list is bound to grow with the passage of time in the larger interest of our Association," Salim said.
Referring to the concerns regarding difficulties with the revised procedures for issuance of visa stickers to certain categories of persons including businessmen, he urged the members to simplify them.

"I would urge this meeting to revisit the procedures to make them simple and achievable," Salim said.
On the recommendation of the Fifth Meeting of Immigration Authorities held in Male in September 2012, a meeting of experts is to convene at the Secretariat immediately following the Core Group's meeting, to consider the establishment of SAARC Immigration Liaison Network, a proposal mooted by the Maldives.