Pakistan has recently made a significant move to attract tourists and investors by waiving visa fees for citizens of 126 countries. This initiative can help change perceptions of Pakistan and promote it as a welcoming and accessible destination.
Pakistan has announced that citizens from 126 countries can now enter the country without paying visa fees. Moreover, this change aims to boost tourism and attract more business investors. This decision is expected to:
- Improve country image: This initiative can help change perceptions of Pakistan and promote it as a welcoming and accessible destination.
- Increase tourism: By making it easier and more affordable to visit Pakistan, the government aims to showcase the country’s rich cultural heritage, stunning landscapes, and warm hospitality.
- Boost business: Removing visa hurdles can encourage foreign investment, trade, and business partnerships, contributing to economic growth.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said this move is a “quantum jump” for the country’s economy. People from these 126 countries can get their business and tourist visas within 24 hours using an online system. Additionally, e-gates will be set up at Gwadar Port and nine airports to make entry even smoother. Initially, these e-gates will be available at Islamabad, Quetta, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Peshawar airports.
This new visa policy makes traveling easier and supports religious tourism. For example, Sikh pilgrims with passports from a third country will have a special visa-on-arrival category.
A new dashboard will be created at the Interior Ministry to manage the online visa system. In addition, the government hopes this will encourage last-minute travel plans, allowing tourists and businesspeople to apply for visas even a day before their trip.
Furthermore, the federal cabinet has also approved special and banking courts to handle banking cases. These courts will be supervised by the Security Exchange Commission.
In Other News
In other news, Pakistan and Denmark will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote public-private partnerships in areas like transport, sustainable growth, and alternative energy.
Lastly, the cabinet called on the international community to hold Israel accountable for its actions in Gaza, urging efforts to ensure a ceasefire and deliver humanitarian aid. The ICJ had declared Israeli brutalities as “genocide” of Palestinians.
Meanwhile, this new visa policy is a significant step towards making Pakistan more accessible and welcoming to the world.
