The nuclear armed arch rivals India and Pakistan have operationalised a new liberalized visa regime, replacing the 38-year-old tardy visa regime.
New Delhi, Dec 15/Nationalturk – In a major confidence building measure and enhancing people-to-people contact between the two countries, the nuclear armed arch rivals India and Pakistan have operationalised a new liberalized visa regime.
The new visa regime was inked by former Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna’s on September 8 this year during his visit to Pakistan.
The new visa regime was operationalised by Pakistan Interior Minister, Rehman Malik, who arrived on a three-day visit to India yesterday, and Indian Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde.
“This is not only historic but this is a step forward for the two countries in the progress of peace. This visa regime will take bilateral relations forward. It will bring good trade, will remove this miscommunication,” Malik said.
As per the new regime, visas on arrival for senior citizens and children will commence from January 15, 2013. The group tourist visas can be applied from March 15, 2013.
It is for the first time that to warring nations will allow group tourist visas, opening up access to the rich history divided across the Radcliff line. Designated tour operators will be allowed to ferry groups of no more than 50 persons. This will be a 30-day visa. Educational institutions can also send children on visit to either country.
2 categories of business visa for businessmen
As per the new visa regime, there will be two categories of business visa for the businessmen of the two countries. Those with an annual turnover of Pakistani Rs 3 crore ($ 3,00,000 approx) will be allowed one-year multiple entry visas with permission to visit 10 places. They will be exempt from police reporting. The second category is for those with less than Pakistani Rs 30 lakh turnover. They will get a one-year visa with permission of four visits to five places.
In another major relaxation, permit visitors will be allowed to travel to five places now instead of three.
The new visa agreement, which replaces a 38-year-old tardy visa regime, would also allow, in exceptional cases, issue of visa for upto two years as against the one year provision in the older regime.
As per the new regime, now entry and exit from different designated immigration check posts can be allowed, if indicated in the application. “However exit from Wagah-Attari on foot cannot be accepted unless the entry was also on foot via Attari-Wagah”
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Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk India News
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