News Desk |
Pakistan has issued electronic visas (e-visas) to over 7,000 foreign nationals from different countries in the last three months.
According to the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) records, total 9,931 e-visa applications were received, of which 7,160 persons were immediately granted e-visa. Meanwhile, 2,246 applications were under consideration while 325 were rejected on technical grounds.
The visa can be issued for a single entry with a maximum duration of stay of up to 90 days.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the e-visa policy will prove to be a milestone for the promotion of tourism and strengthening of economy. Qureshi said that the policy has started to bear fruits already, adding that people were looking to come to Pakistan for tourism, business, and education.
“We hope the policy sets the foundation stone for a stable economy,” he said.
Read more: E-visa service to make Pakistan tourist favorite: President Alvi
E-visa facility for 175 countries: Fawad Chaudhry
On January 31, the former information minister Fawad Chaudhry said that tourists from 175 countries would be given the e-visa facility. “People from 98 countries can take advantage of the business visa facility,” he said, adding that the government has opened Pakistan to boost tourism in the country.
Chaudhry had said that journalist visa for Pakistan would be made easy. He had said that people could apply for Pakistan’s visa online, adding that visa on arrival facility had also been made available.
Different visa categories
On March 14, Prime Minister Imran Khan had announced that citizens of five preferred countries would be able to apply for electronic entry visas to Pakistan through an online portal launched by the NADRA. On January 26, Pakistan had updated its visa policy and the government decided to grant visas on arrival to people from 50 countries.
Pakistan has issued electronic visas (e-visas) to over 7,000 foreign nationals from different countries in the last three months.
The e-visa portal is designed to facilitate the application processes for more than 10 different categories of visas, including visas-on-arrival for tourism or business, visit visas for tourism and visit visas for business.
Read more: Pakistan’s Hospitality & Tourism: A long but rewarding journey
The media reported that visa-on-arrival for tourism was for citizens of 50 countries and for nationals of Indian origin travelling to Pakistan for religious tourism purposes. The visa can be issued for a single entry with a maximum duration of stay of up to 90 days.
The nationals of 175 countries can apply for a tourist visa, which can be issued with a validity of up to six months for a single or double-entry. The processing time for an application is 10 business days. Upon approval, foreign nationals are issued an Electronic Travel Authorization via e-mail.