Foreign investors to get visa at airports, policy liberalised
ISLAMABAD (January 14 2005): The government has announced liberalised visa policy for almost 59 countries, including European Union (EU), China and the US under which foreign investors and businessmen would be able to get visa at airports on their arrival to Pakistan. However, the government has announced abolition of the visa issuance by Pakistan missions in any third country. Federal Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao stated this during a press conference here on Thursday.
He said that traders, businessmen and investors belonging to about 28 countries would be issued 30-day visa at all the international airports of the country.
These countries are included in the list of 28-favourite states that already have the trade-related ties with Pakistan.
However, he did not disclose the names of the countries whose investors will be given hassle-free visa facility.
The revised policy will come into force as soon as necessary arrangements regarding establishing facilitation counters were finalised, he said, adding that the visa desks would be set up at all airports during the next 15 to 20 days in collaboration with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Defence Ministry.
Under the new policy, granting of visa by Pakistani missions and embassies in the third country will not be allowed in order to impose some restrictions upon the visitors, he added.
The ambassadors and heads of chanceries will be exempted from this visa issuance restriction of the third country, he clarified.
Sherpao said that any investor or businessman would have to produce legal documents, including duly recommended letter, from the respective country's chamber of commerce and industry, invitation letter from the Board of Investment (BoI) recognised investment corporation or business entity to the immigration officials at the airports on their arrival.
To a question, he said that the Interior Ministry is also working to devise an investor-friendly policy for Saarc states.
The ministry has also formulated another policy for the businessmen, traders and investors of 21 countries under which the applicants would be granted five-year multiple visa within 24 hours by the respective Pakistan embassies or missions.
The missions have also been authorised to issue entry visa to the investors who fulfil the above-mentioned criteria, he said.
A large number of Sikh population visit Lahore, Sheikhupura, Hasanabdal and Rawalpindi every year, the government has decided to issue visa to Indian Sikh 'Yatrees' holding foreign passports through Pakistan missions abroad.
The Sikh individuals would have visa facility just for 15 days, Sherpao said.
According to the liberalised policy, the missions have been asked to issue visa to those Indians who are working in the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), UN agencies or any other multinational groups after clearance from the link offices in Pakistan.
The ministry has also announced revise policy for foreign students. Clearance from secret agencies and certificate from applicant's home department has been declared mandatory for taking admission in Pakistani educational institutions.