Imtiaz Rasheed Quresh

The Bhagat Singh Memorial Foundation Pakistan has made a humanitarian appeal to Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations to work to improve Pakistan–India relations and restore Visa facilities. The NGO had recently celebrated Gurpurab besides the birth anniversary and martyrdom day of revolutionary Bhagat Singh at Lahore.

Foundation chairman, Imtiaz Rasheed Qureshi Advocate, has drawn UN’s attention to the strained relations between Pakistan and India, and the severe consequences of prolonged visa restrictions on millions of ordinary citizens of both nations.

The NGO said that despite political differences, the peoples of Pakistan and India share historic, cultural, familial, and emotional bonds. Unfortunately, visa restrictions—particularly for family reunification, religious travel, medical emergencies, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people contact - have caused immense suffering for divided families and vulnerable individuals.

Qureshi requested UN secretary general to pursue the neighbouring nations to ease Visa restrictions, reinstate family, medical, religious, and cultural visas on humanitarian grounds. Promote People-to-People contact, facilitate reunions of divided families and allow artists, students, journalists, and peace activists to engage freely. He further emphasised the necessity to reinitiate peace dialogue, support a structured and continuous peace process between Pakistan and India, and recognize cross-border family reunification as a fundamental human right. Strengthen regional stability: assist through UN-backed initiatives to reduce tensions and foster mutual understanding.

The Foundation said that citizens of both countries desire peace, dignity, and cooperation—not conflict. By easing visa restrictions and restoring human connections, a major step toward long-term regional stability can be achieved. “Your intervention would be invaluable in advancing human rights, rebuilding trust, and creating a peaceful future for South Asia” the appeal made to the Secretary UN said, hoping that the United Nations will consider this humanitarian appeal with empathy, fairness, and a commitment to the principles of global peace and cooperation.