News Desk |
President of Pakistan Dr. Arif Alvi said that the opening of e-visas and visa-on-arrival facilities to tourists would attract more businessmen and tourists towards Pakistan, local press reported on Friday, 12th April.
“The government is committed to providing amiable business environment to the foreign investors in the country,” he said while addressing the inaugural dinner of the 2nd International Textile Expo 2019 in Lahore. The president warmly welcomed the 300 foreign representatives besides 400 exhibitors to the four-day TEXPO.
The first step includes submission of visa fees, and applicant’s information and documents. The second stage covers processing of the application, and in the last phase, the e-visa will be issued.
He added that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) provided multifarious business opportunities, and the development of Gwadar Port would go a long way in improving the communication and transportation, for textile and other industries.
Seven New Economic Zones
President Alvi said that seven new economic zones were being established in the country which offered great investment opportunities to the foreign businessmen.
New Visa Policies
On 13th March, Prime Minister Imran Khan had launched visa-on-arrival policy for five countries: Turkey, China, Malaysia, the UK, and the UAE.
Read more: Pakistan issues visa on arrival to tourists from ‘friendly’ countries
The e-visa service has been developed by the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) in three months and is similar to the systems in the US and the UK. The application consists of three steps. The first step includes submission of visa fees, and applicant’s information and documents. The second stage covers processing of the application, and in the last phase, the e-visa will be issued.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government plans to provide online visa facility to residents of over 175 countries. “The government has opened Pakistan to boost tourism in the country,” Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said in January.
Read more: Pakistan Tourism Summit: Fawad urges media to play positive role
Pakistan is a paradise for tourists, he told the media during a briefing in Islamabad. However, Chaudhry said after 1965, tourism in the country had dwindled. On January 26, Pakistan updated its visa policy and the government granted visas-on-arrival to travellers from 50 countries.
Research & writing by Talha ul Huda with editing and additional inputs by Hammad Khan at the GVS News Desk.