Pakistan Friday announced a new visa policy to introduce on-arrival visas for the citizens of 50 countries and e-visas for the nationals of 175 countries to encourage tourism in the country. While talking to media persons here on Friday, Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said that citizens from 50 countries will be granted visas on arrival while citizens from 175 countries have been extended the e-visa facility in a bid to revive tourism in the country.
He further said that Indian-origin British and the US passport holders will be granted on-arrival visas to Pakistan.
The minister said IATA-approved tour operators can now bring in tourist groups under the new policy, adding that it will usher in a new era of progress and prosperity in the country.
Business visas will now be provided to citizens of 96 countries, registering an increase from the previous 68 countries. Business visas will be stamped in eight to 10 days, he added.
Chaudhry said that the duration of diplomatic visas has been extended from one year to three years, while that of students' visas from one year to two years.
Tourists can now visit all parts of the country including open cantonments, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. They are no longer required to obtain any no objection certificate (NOC), the minister added.
He said that journalists' visas will now be processed through the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, adding that they will also be given long-term visas without any curbs.
The minister said that the government is also contemplating reviving major festivals across the country to provide entertainment and educational facilities to the masses and further build the soft image of the country.
Chaudhary said, "We want to make tourism the basis of development like Malaysia and Turkey which are earning billions of dollars through this sector." He said that the economic reforms package announced by the government is aimed at boosting exports, reducing imports and enhancing industrialisation to generate economic activities and jobs.
Later, responding to the queries of media persons, the minister urged the opposition to play its part to run the parliamentary proceedings in a smooth manner.
He regretted that the Opposition Leader Shehbaz Sharif is pointing fingers at Prime Minister Imran Khan in the National Assembly, vitiating the political environment. He said, "We respect the Parliament and all the elected representatives but the Prime Minister, being leader of the House, also deserves due respect."
Talking about Sindh, Chaudhary said that the Prime Minister will soon pay a visit to the province to take stock of the latest situation for evolving a new policy to provide relief to the people.
The minister rejected the recent statements of Pakistan People's Party leaders Asif Ali Zardari and Murad Ali Shah that the system and the state are in danger, saying rather their own political careers are at stake as they have been caught 'red-handed' in the mega money laundering and corruption cases.