News
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
President confirms ratification of Indo-Pak visa agreement
* Visitor visa will also be issued to person visiting other country to meet relatives or friends
*Group visa will be issued to individual applicants for travel in group
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Zardari on Tuesday confirmed Pakistan’s ratification of Visa Agreement between Pakistan and India, signed between the two countries on September 8 during the visit of Indian external affairs minister to Pakistan.
The cabinet had accorded its approval to sign the agreement during its meeting held on September 5, 2012 and approved the ratification of the Subject Protocol on October 31.
President spokesman Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the objective of the visa agreement was to facilitate the travellers of the two countries.
The spokesman said that under this agreement, besides diplomatic, non-diplomatic and official visas, a visitor visa would be issued to person visiting the other country to meet relatives or friends or for any other legitimate purpose. “This visa would be valid for a maximum of five specified places and shall be for a period not exceeding six months. The visa shall also specify that the duration of stay of the visitor at a time shall not exceed three months,” the agreement reads.
The agreement also reads, “A visitor visa for a maximum of five specified places may be issued for a longer period of up to two years with multiple entries to senior citizens (those above 65 years of age); national of one country, married to a national of the other country; and children below 12 years of age accompanying parent(s).” According to the agreement, transit visa valid for up to two entries in the city/port of entry for 36 hours in each case will be issued to persons travelling by air or sea and proceeding to another country through Pakistan/India. Such transit visa will need to be obtained before undertaking the travel. No visa will be required for a passenger directly transiting through an airport/seaport, but his/her stay shall be confined to the area in the airport/seaport set apart for international transit passengers.
The visa agreement also reads, “Group Tourist visa may be issued to individual applicants for travel in group, with not less than 10 members and not more than 50 members in each group, organised by approved tour operators/travel agents. Such visa will be valid for up to 30 days and will be non-extendable.” The group tourist visa facility will also be available to students of educational institutions of both countries. However, this will be a tourist visa only and not for seeking admission in educational institutions of either country. Known and reputed academic institutions should organise such tours with sponsorship from a similar institution, purely for the approved tour operator should take non-religious purpose and prior clearance for the tour from the host country.
On business visa, the agreement says, “This visa will be issued to bona fide businessmen in the following categories, who intend to travel for business purpose between India and Pakistan; businessmen with an income of Pak Rs half a million or equivalent per annum or turnover/gross sale of PKR three million or equivalent will be given one year business visa, with five place for up to four entries. Businessmen with an income of at least PKR five million or equivalent per annum or turnover of PKR thirty million or equivalent per annum will be given one year multiple entry business visas for up to 10 places, with exemption from police reporting.”
It also reads, “The visa shall specify that the period of stay of the businessman at a time shall not exceed 30 days. The maximum time taken in processing of a business visa will not exceed more than five weeks.”
The pilgrim visas will be issued to pilgrims intending to visit religious shrines as per the 1974 protocol on visits to religious shrine, or any future revision to the Protocol. Such visas will need to be applied at least 45 days before the commencement of the intended tour. These visas will be issued for a single entry, restricted to 15 days validity and would be non-extendable.Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk