Sir: India has agreed to allow direct investment from Pakistan. Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Amin Fahim and Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram have also inaugurated Integrated Check Post at Wagah-Attari as part of initiatives to promote liberal trade between the two countries. Pakistan and India will also open bank branches in each other’s countries. Every possible step is being taken to facilitate businessmen on both sides of the border. India has agreed to issue two-year multiple visas to Pakistani businessmen for uninterrupted and smooth travelling. All this sounds good, but what about the common man on both sides of the border? This man is still waiting for both countries to resolve the visa issue. Acquiring a visa for any of these countries is akin to scaling Mount Everest. Unless the plight of the common man is improved, relations between India and Pakistan cannot normalise. People-to-people contact between both countries is as important as liberal trade ties. The sooner they understand this, the better. M RAFIQUE ZAKARIA Karachi