ISLAMABAD – Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhary hassaid the government is introducing a new revolutionary visa policy toencourage tourism in the country.
Talking to the media persons in Islamabad on Friday, he said the policy hasbeen framed in consultations with all the departments concerned andstakeholders.
He said under this major visa initiative, one hundred and seventy fivecountries have been extended the facility of E-Visa whilst the citizens offifty countries will be given visas on arrival.
The Information Minister said IATA approved tour operators now can bringtourist groups to the country under new policy which, he said, will usherin a new era of progress and prosperity in the country.
Unveiling further main points of the policy, the Information Minister saidIndian origin American and British citizens will also be given visas onarrival. He said Business visa will now be provided to the citizens ofninety six countries from the previous practice of sixty eight countries.The Business visa will be stamped in eight to ten days.
Fawad Chaudhary said the period of diplomatic visa has been extended fromone year to three years whilst that of students’ visa to two years from oneyear.
The Information Minister said the tourists can now visit all parts of thecountry including open cantonments, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan. Hesaid the tourists are no longer required to take any NOC.
Fawad Chaudhary said the journalist visas will now be processed through theMinistry of Information and Broadcasting and they will also be given longterm visas without any curbs.
The Information Minister said the government is also contemplating torevive the major festivals across the country to provide entertainment andeducational facilities to the masses and further build the soft image ofthe country.
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Fawad Chaudhary said we want to make tourism the basis of development likeMalaysia and Turkey which are earning billions of dollars from this sector.He said the economic reforms package announced by the government is aimedat boosting exports, reducing imports and enhancing industrialization togenerate economic activities and jobs.
Later responding to the queries of media persons, the Information Ministerurged the opposition to play its part to run the parliamentary proceedingsin a smooth manner.
He regretted that the Opposition Leader Shahbaz Sharif is pointing fingerson Prime Minister Imran Khan in the National Assembly, vitiating thepolitical environment. He said we respect the parliament and all theelected representatives but the prime minister, being leader of the house,also deserves due respect.
The Minister said PML (N) leader Shahbaz Sharif who introduced the cultureof extra judicial killings during his tenure as Chief Minister of Punjab,is baselessly criticizing the PTI government on the Sahiwal incident.
Turning towards Sindh province, Fawad Chaudhary said Prime Minister ImranKhan will soon pay a visit to the province to take stock of the latestsituation and evolve a new policy accordingly to provide all possiblerelief to the people of Sindh.
The Minister rejected the recent statements of PPP leaders Asif Ali Zardariand Murad Ali Shah that the system and the state are in danger sayingrather their own political careers are at stake as they have been caughtred handed in mega money laundering and corruption cases.
