ISLAMABAD: Though Pakistan has announced visa on arrival for tourists, big investors and heads of big companies are unhappy over the changed visa policy of Pakistan under which a single entry visa is issued for a specific time.
An official of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told Pakistan Today that, though the government had changed its visa policy in June 2017 on security and other grounds, the new policy is unfavourable for businessmen who travel worldwide frequently. “Before June 2017, Pakistan used to offer multiple entry and long-term visas to businessmen. But a sudden change in policy is already discouraging business tycoons from visiting Pakistan,” he said.
“Ministry of Foreign Affairs has written letters to the prime minister seeking change in the policy suggesting that only specified countries should be treated under the new policy. However, the Prime Minister Office (PMO) is yet to move forward on this case,” he said.
Giving an example of the negative implications of the new visa policy, he said that, the head of Japanese company Toshiba, who wanted to visit one of the LNG terminals in Karachi for investment purpose had shown his displeasure over the visa system. “As I have recently served in Japan, I know how the heads of the big companies agree to visit a country like Pakistan. We have to convince them after making frequent visits to their offices and lots of efforts,” he said adding that in other countries chief executive officers and other heads face no visa issues.
“What is the rationale behind treating such businessmen equally with common citizens of other countries visiting Pakistan? The executives of such firms usually go out for visit to various regions. They need frequent and multiple visits to countries concerned. We at least should not bond them to make their schedule as per our visa policy,” he said adding that the issue has also been raised in a couple of parliamentary committees by the ministry so far.
“Easy visa system for businessmen is one of the major components of ease of doing business. If we have any issue with some countries, we should set a specific policy for them instead of treating others in the same way,” he added.
When the same issue was raised with Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, he said that he would discuss the issue with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “Let me check first, I will see how to resolve the visa issue for businessmen,” he told Pakistan Today.
It may be recalled here that, the interior minister had recently announced that visa-on-arrival facility would help attract investors and tourists towards Pakistan. Highlighting the significance of visa-on-arrival policy, the minister while talking to the media after the National Assembly session said that the government desires to make Pakistan a ‘tourist friendly country’ to promote tourism, besides attracting foreign investors.
In response to a point of order raised by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Shireen Mazari, Ahsan Iqbal informed the National Assembly that the government had not made any changes to its security policy, adding that the loopholes from the previous policy have been merely removed.
Former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had also commented on Mazari’s query, saying that he placed a ban after hundreds of murderers came to Pakistan in the past, asking the ministry not to change the policy under pressures from the right and left.
Iqbal, however, maintained that it was necessary to take reasonable steps to improve the economy, adding that the country cannot be closed down in the name of security. He further said that Pakistan would not compromise on security matters.
