Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Wednesday said that the foreigners staying in the country for more than three-day after expiry their visa a fine of $100 would be imposed against them and they may also be arrested at airports if they exceed the given limit.
Talking to media persons after chairing a meeting here at Passport and Immigration Office Headquarters, he said the foreigners will have to get their stay regularised within fifteen days as "we would not allow to overstay in Pakistan after expiry of their visas, adding that foreign students of colleges‚ universities and Madaris be treated in the same fashion.
The Minister said that if any terrorist came to Pakistan under the garb of student‚ action will also be taken against the sponsors. He said that foreigners who continued overstaying in the country would be arrested at the airport. He said that government has also banned free movement at Pakistan-Afghan boarder. Malik said that no one will be allowed to enter Pakistan from Afghanistan border without legal documents. Pakistan Ambassador in Afghanistan will be requested to inform the Afghan authorities for the same.
He said that I&P officers have increased the number of pages in passport book for the facilitation of citizens. The Interior Minister said preference will be given for issuing passports to business community while the overseas businessmen would also be issued the visas on priority basis. He said that passport validity will be ten years instead of five years and the pages of passport have been increased to 45 from 36.
Rehman Malik said that there are security problems in the country, but general elections will be held on time, despite the fact that a particular mind set want to disturb the election. He said that Tahirul Qadri has insulted the green passport by stating that there was no respect for the Pakistani passport. To a question about detention of former Ogra chief Tauqeer Sadiq, he said that Interpol has been contacted in this regard and Tauqeer would be arrested when Dubai authorities release him while a team would leave for Dubai on Wednesday.
Malik said that foreign elements were involved in creating law and order situation in Balochistan, however, he said that the situation in the province was gradually improving. Spoiling of law and order in Quetta was part of an international conspiracy, he added. The minister said that orders have been issued for strict action against banned organisations in Quetta. Passport and Nadra office would be established in Noshki.
Earlier, Directorate General (DG) of Passports and Immigration has given a detailed briefing to the Interior Minister. During the briefing, DG I&P informed the Minister that from October 2004 to March 2008, 5.527 million passports were issued whereas during the tenure of present government, ie April 2008 till date 12.345 million passports have been issued thus, there has been an increase of 7 million in total number of passports issued hitherto.
Similarly, Rs 21.815 billion revenue was earned from October 2004 to March 2008 whereas in last five years, ie April 2008 till to-date, Rs 48.696 billion has been generated as revenue receipts. DG I&P further informed the Minister that there has been 90 percent increase in establishment of new offices within the country.
The Minister issued directives to constitute a committee headed by Additional Secretary (Saud Mirza) that to form a policy for students (both University/Madaris) and there shall be no discrimination for issuance of student visas. Instructions have also been given to devise a policy for the visas for NGOs working in Pakistan. Some of the NGOs are working without clearance, hence they would be given notice and warning to get registered themselves registered within next fifteen days.
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