Pak minorities in India can own house

The Centre is planning to allow Pakistani Hindus and Sikhs staying in India to buy houses here without RBI’s prior approval and issue them documents like PAN and Aadhaar card.

There are also plans to allow people belonging to minority communities in Pakistan to open bank accounts and permit them to take up self- employment or do business, which is considered safe from security point of view.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued the draft proposals keeping in mind hardships being faced by the minority communities in Pakistan and who are staying in India on Long Term Visa. Stakeholders have been asked to submit their views by April 18.

A senior ministry official said the government has been constantly reviewing the problems faced by such people and the new proposals have been framed to ease some of their difficulties. He said the security aspects would be weighed in while finalising the proposals.

The government now plans to permit them to purchase houses for “self occupation” as well as suitable accommodation for carrying out self-employment. The self-employment or business opportunity will be allowed only after considering security point of view.

Such people could also get driving license, PAN and Aadhaar card.

The government is planning to allow free movement within the state UT where they are staying instead of restricting their movement within the place of stay. "In the case of such persons living in the National Capital Region (NCR), it is proposed to allow free movement within NCR. It is also proposed to simplify the procedure for visit to a place in any other state," the draft said.

Authorities are also mulling the possibility of simplifying the procedure for grant of Indian citizenship to such people by empowering the collector, deputy commissioner or district magistrate to authorise, in his absence, in writing an officer not below the rank of sub divisional magistrate for administering the oath of allegiance to the applicant.