Islamabad: Pakistan and India have increased the staff strength of their High Commissions in New Delhi and Islamabad respectively from 47 to 55, granting simultaneous visas to eight additional officials to meet the growing rush for visa seekers.

Accepting the suggestion made by India in September, Islamabad issued visas to eight Indian officials yesterday (Nov 13), while India granted the visas to same number of Pakistan officials to work in Pakistan High Commission in India, officials said.

The proposal was made by India to meet increasing rush of visa seekers from Pakistan to visit India, as currently the visa section in Indian mission functioned with skeletal staff.

The proposal also figured in the 12-point confidence building measures proposed by India last month to improve relations between the two countries.

Pakistan, while accepting the Indian suggestion, wanted the staff strength to be restored to its original levels of 110 members. The numbers came down sharply after India cut down its staff strength by half after the terrorist attack on Parliament in 2001. The numbers reduced further due to mutual expulsions of diplomats and staff that followed.

Currently the Indian High Commission here was grappling with heavy rush for visas to visit India following resumption of bus services between the two countries as well as visits by political and trade delegations.

The rush was expected to pick up further if both the countries managed to reach an agreement to resume civil aviation links after the second round of talks to be held in New Delhi in December first week.

PTI