Visa checks for Afghans demanded

NA panel says Pakistan cannot bear burden of influx

ISLAMABAD:

Members of the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs called on Monday for fixing the number of Pakistani visas to the Afghan citizens and strict check on the issuance of illegal visas.

The committee met here with its chairman Mohsin Dawar in the chair. The committee received briefings from officials of the foreign ministry and the interior ministry on the issuance of visas to the Afghan citizens.

The committee was informed by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials that since January 1, 2022, over 900,000 Afghans submitted visa applications, out of which more than 375,000 visas were granted while over 351,000 were rejected.

The officials said that over 102,000 applications were in process. At the same time, the officials added, more than 32,000 visas were cancelled for various reasons, including overstay. They also said that 650,000 visas were processed on an annual basis.

Interior Ministry officials informed the committee that they had no role in the entry visas for the Afghans, stressing that the ministry only processed the study visa, while the other matters were the domain of the foreign ministry.

The chair remarked that some visas were issued in minutes, while others took weeks. Salahuddin Ayubi, who was especially invited to the meeting, claimed that on the payment of $1,500 visa could be issued on the same day.

He also claimed that 10,000-15,000 people cross over the Chaman border crossing every day to go to work in Afghanistan in the morning and return to Pakistan in the evening. He also said that Rs1 million was demanded for the admission of a female student.

Committee Member Mahnaz Akbar stressed the need for fixing the number of visas. She said that in the prevailing circumstances, the country could near the bear the burden of Afghan citizens.

Another committee member Mohammad Khan emphasised the need for identification of those elements involved in the issuance of illegal visas. The committee directed the ministries to submit detailed reports on these matters in the next meeting.

Ayubi raised the issue of Afghan men not getting citizenship after marrying Pakistani women. Dawar said that granting citizenship to women after marrying Pakistan men but not granting citizenship to men after marrying Pakistan women was discriminatory.

Foreign Ministry Special Secretary Cyrus Qazi told the committee that an officer in the Swedish capital of Stockholm, illegally issued visas to 700 Afghans. Those Afghans, he said, were in the FIA custody after returning and an investigation was under way.

The committee went into an in-camera session on the issue of a Pakistani citizen who was not given the power of attorney by the Pakistani embassy in the Netherlands. Later, Dawar told reporters that no reason was given for not issuing the power of attorney.