Interior ministry announces new visa policy for artistes

ISLAMABAD: Artistes will need to get permission from the culture ministry to visit other countries, the interior ministry announced on Thursday.

Responding a point of order at the floor of the National Assembly yesterday, Interior Minister Rehman Malik had said that the ministry had finalized a policy for artistes to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the culture ministry before visiting any foreign country.

The interior ministry has devised a new policy for artistes' tour other countries. The ministry said that it will not issue artistes an NOC after March 15 as they will have to apply to the culture ministry for approval.

Under the new mechanism, which will be introduced in a few days, there will be a check on the visits of Pakistani artists to other countries.

An updated passport form with additional columns will also be released requiring visa seekers to submit their detailed particulars as practiced in developed countries, the interior minister had said yesterday.

The decision comes in the backdrop of Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s detention in India for violating the country’s customs laws.