A forceful plea for abolishing visas for Indians and Pakistanis above 65 years of age was made here Tuesday to promote greater people-to-people contacts between the two countries.

Industrialist Abdul Aziz Memon, who is the president of the Karachi Rotary Club, made the suggestion after signing a memorandum of understanding with the Madras Rotary Club to exchange expertise in community and social work.

"Many elderly people in Pakistan were born in India and have friends and relations here. Similarly, there are many in India who have relatives in Pakistan. Let these elderly people travel to India and Pakistan without having to go through the hassles of a visa regime," he said.

Memon also urged greater interaction between the business communities of the two countries.

"In the next few years, Pakistan will see its biggest investments coming from India," he said. 

Pakistani businessmen in the Rotary delegation lamented that they had to buy equipment like winches for textile manufacturing units manufactured by Indian companies from Dubai due to trade restrictions.