Additional Director FIA, Immigration & Anti-human Smuggling, Javed Akbar Riaz, has asked the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) to help streamlining the facility of 'Business Visa on arrival' facility at Jinnah International Airport (JIAP) as this facility, which is being offered to foreign businessmen/ investors only was being misused, says a press release.
During his visit to KCCI, Additional Director FIA said that Visa Facilitation Desk, which has been established at all international airports including JIAP Karachi, issues Business Visa on arrival to foreign businessmen and investors of designated countries by authorised Immigration Officer. However, it has been observed that visa on arrival facility exclusively meant for genuine businessmen and investor is being misused by local industries/ firms.
President KCCI, A. Abdullah Zaki, while expressing deep concerns over the situation, assured KCCI's full support in ensuring that only genuine foreign businessmen/ investors are allowed to enter Pakistan using visa on arrival facility. Senior Vice President KCCI, Muffasar Ata Malik, Vice President KCCI, Muhammad Idrees and other members of the Managing Committee were also present at the meeting.
President KCCI further assured that Karachi Chamber will further intensify the scrutiny process for issuance KCCI recommendation letter to its members and the FIA will not face such issues. He also stressed the need for raising awareness amongst members of the business community about the eligibility of passengers seeking Business Visa on arrival as most of the businessmen are unaware of the fact that only directors, businessmen, investors and major shareholders can avail Business Visa on arrival facility whereas mangers, sales managers, technicians and other representatives of foreign companies are ineligible for this facility.
Javed Akbar further informed that FIA has taken a number of steps to improve its facilities and is striving hard to provide best services to passengers. He said that FIA facilities at JIAP will be further organised in the next 20 days at par with similar facilities being offered at various airports around the world.
Highlighting some of the problems being faced by FIA officials in dealing with passengers requesting Business Visa on Arrival, Javed Akbar Riaz advised KCCI members that the applications for grant of business visa on arrival should be addressed to Additional Director FIA, I&AHS, JIAP Karachi and must reach his office at least three days prior to the arrival of the passenger so that the request may be properly scrutinised and processed before arrival of the guest.
"All applications should be routed through Chamber of Commerce and Industry or relevant trade body/ association. The authorised persons of the chamber of commerce should verify the genuineness of the request and specifically endorse that the passenger is in fact a foreign businessman or investor", he added. In this regard, KCCI office bearers extended full support to FIA in effectively dealing with passengers seeking Business Visa on arrival.-PR