E-visa facility extended to 175 countries, says Fawad

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhary said on Friday that the government is introducing a new revolutionary visa policy to encourage tourism in the country.

Speaking to the media, he said the policy has been framed in consultations with all stakeholders. “Under this major visa initiative, 175 countries have been extended the facility of E-visa while the citizens of fifty countries will be given visas on arrival.”

Unveiling further main points of the policy, the minister said Indian-origin American and British nations will also be given visas on arrival, adding that business visa will now be provided to the citizens of 96 countries as the business visa will be stamped in eight to ten days.

He said the period of diplomatic visa has been extended from one year to three years whilst that of students’ visa to two years from one year.

The minister said tourists can now visit all parts of the country including open cantonments, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan, adding they will be no longer required to take any NOC.

Fawad said journalist visas will now be processed through the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and they will also be given long term visas without any curbs.  He said the government was also contemplating to revive the major festivals across the country to provide entertainment and educational facilities to the masses and further build the soft image of the country.

He said the PTI government wants to make tourism the basis of development like Malaysia and Turkey which are earning billions of dollars from this sector. He said the economic reforms package announced by the government is aimed at boosting exports, reducing imports and enhancing industrialization 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.

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