‘Visa-on-arrival’ policy comes into force

Facility has been introduced under BVOA

ISLAMABAD: The incumbent interior minister has gone back on almost all the policies introduced by his predecessor, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, the latest being visa-on-arrival facility.

The government has started implementing the policy and issuing ‘visa on arrival’ to foreigners from a select group of 68 countries -- including the US, Russia and the UK.

The visa-on-arrival facility has been introduced under the ‘business visa on arrival (BVOA) for businessmen of those 68 countries.

The BVOA facility has 30 days validity for single entry and this is being issued to businessmen coming to Pakistan from business-friendly countries.



Sponsorship of business organisation is required to submit documents to local head of immigration to get pre-approval of Letter of Invitation as a pre-requisite to fly, states the relevant official documents in this connection.

On arrival in Pakistan, the letter of recommendation from chambers of commerce/trade association of Pakistan is also required or the pre-approved letter of invitation from sponsoring business organisation in Pakistan.

Bosnia, Azerbaijan, Chili, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Latvia, Lithonia, Malta, Slovenia, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Vietnam are also in the list of 68 countries from where businessmen may get visa on their arrival under the BVOA scheme.



Other than this, Pakistan is also offering visa on arrival to group tourists of 24 friendly countries.

Former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had imposed a ban on visa-on-arrival and the basic purpose of the move was to maintain the matters with the countries all around the world on the basis of equality.

He was of the opinion that Pakistanis are not awarded visa on arrival by the majority of countries and they are required to obtain visa first before visiting those countries.

The former interior minister was of the view that he imposed the ban on visa on arrival after hundreds of murderers came to Pakistan in the past using the scheme.

"Don't change the policy under pressure from the right and left," Nisar had said during a recent sitting of the National Assembly when a point was raised in the house over the scheme.

However, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal maintained that it was necessary to take reasonable steps to improve the economy.



He also assured the house that "Blackwater or other security contractors will not be able to enter the country. “All the checks are in place."

In December 2015, former Australian Test batsman Dean Jones was deported by immigration authorities at the Islamabad international airport when it was found that he had no proper travel document to travel to Pakistan.

Jones was travelling from Melbourne to Islamabad and he was not allowed to enter the country and sent back after landing at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport as he was travelling without a valid visa.

Veteran actress Sharmila Tagore in January 2017 could not cross the Wagah Border crossing into India because the immigration staff of the Federal Investigation Agency stopped her for not having a 'police report' of her stay in Lahore.

Later, she was allowed to leave the country when the required documents were produced before the authorities concerned.