New visa regime producing results: Qureshi

FM says people are using the facility to visit Pakistan for business, tourism and education

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that the new visa policy announced by the government has been successful and producing the desired results, and that he is hopeful it would not only promote tourism but will also stabilise the economy.

Qureshi said the online e-visa was introduced on the instructions of Prime Minister Imran Khan. He said that according to the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) record, 9,931 e-visa applications had been received of which 7,160 were approved immediately, whereas 2,446 applications are in process, while 325 were rejected on technical grounds.

The minister said the people were using e-visa facility to visit Pakistan for business, tourism and education and that it will also promote ‘economic diplomacy’.

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The government had announced a new visa policy encouraging tourists from 50 countries to avail themselves of visa-on-arrival facility and providing e-visa to citizens of 175 countries.

With the government’s decision to allow free movement of tourists in Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and open cantonments, the authorities would issue a revised list of restricted parts of a tehsil or district where visible signboards would be installed for the purpose. Gated cantonments would retain the prohibited status.

Qureshi, on his arrival at the Old Trafford to witness the Cricket World Cup 2019 match between Pakistan and India on Sunday, said that Pakistan and Indian teams should play cricket in the larger interest of the sports.

“There is; however, no immediate chance of resumption of cricketing ties as India is shy of even talks with Pakistan,” he said.

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The minister said cricket was very much popular in the sub-continent and Prime Minister Imran Khan had given a new identity to the game of in Pakistan.

He expressed the hope that India will play cricket against Pakistan as it was vital for the promotion of the game in the region as well as across the world.

Responding to a question on the slogans against Nawaz Sharif raised by the spectators, Qureshi said that people here knew everything.