This is a welcome move by the government and hopefully will lead to more foreign investment and tourism, as well as projecting a more open view of Pakistan.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/wor...000/970985.stm
Pakistan relaxes visa rules
By Zafar Abbas in Islamabad
Pakistan today announced a new liberal visa policy to encourage foreign investment and tourism in the country.
The Interior Minister, Moinuddin Haider, said under the new policy, tourists from most countries would be able to get an entry permit on arrival at the airport.
Mr Haider said the new visa policy would come into force from next Monday.
He said those who later wanted to extend their stay in the country would be able to get a three-month visa from any of the local passport offices.
The Interior Minister said, however, that the facility would not be available to citizens of India, Israel and 14 other countries, which he said were on Pakistan's negative list.
The list includes countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Libya with whom Pakistan generally has extremely good relations.
Friendly countries
Mr Haider said names of some of these friendly countries were included in the so-called negative list to discourage people who intend to misuse the visa facility to take refuge in Pakistan.
The minister said the new visa policy is also aimed at attracting foreign investment.
He said Pakistan's missions abroad have been instructed that businessmen from those 44 countries with whom Islamabad has good business relations should be given multiple entry-visas for up to three years.
Mr Haider was hopeful that the new policy would go a long way towards encouraging tourism and foreign investment
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/wor...000/970985.stm
Pakistan relaxes visa rules
By Zafar Abbas in Islamabad
Pakistan today announced a new liberal visa policy to encourage foreign investment and tourism in the country.
The Interior Minister, Moinuddin Haider, said under the new policy, tourists from most countries would be able to get an entry permit on arrival at the airport.
Mr Haider said the new visa policy would come into force from next Monday.
He said those who later wanted to extend their stay in the country would be able to get a three-month visa from any of the local passport offices.
The Interior Minister said, however, that the facility would not be available to citizens of India, Israel and 14 other countries, which he said were on Pakistan's negative list.
The list includes countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Libya with whom Pakistan generally has extremely good relations.
Friendly countries
Mr Haider said names of some of these friendly countries were included in the so-called negative list to discourage people who intend to misuse the visa facility to take refuge in Pakistan.
The minister said the new visa policy is also aimed at attracting foreign investment.
He said Pakistan's missions abroad have been instructed that businessmen from those 44 countries with whom Islamabad has good business relations should be given multiple entry-visas for up to three years.
Mr Haider was hopeful that the new policy would go a long way towards encouraging tourism and foreign investment
Comment