Facilitating exchanges: SAARC meeting takes up online visa exemption scheme

ISLAMABAD: The seven members and one SAARC observer on Tuesday discussed development of a security software to digitise the regional visa exemption scheme among all member states.

The matter was discussed at the seventh meeting of immigration authorities from South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) member countries in Islamabad.

The meeting was led by DG Immigration and Passports of Pakistan Usman Bajwa, who the meeting had earlier elected as chairperson as per Saarc practice. They deliberated on the development of software for the Saarc visa exemption scheme (SVES) which aims to transform the existing manual systems of SVES into an online visa application system through a central database connecting member states and providing them with real-time and secure visa information.

The new system for SVES is aimed at streamlining scheme processes.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 3^rd, 2016.