January 10, 2003	Friday	Ziqa’ad 6, 1423

KARACHI, Jan 9: The US embassy has refused visas to a number of leather garments exporters who have booked space in “Source International” exhibition being held in New York from Sunday.

A day before, Pakistani textile exporters had to face hazards in getting Germany visa. “The time frame specified by these countries for processing visa applications is unjustifiably lengthy and long delays are being experienced by exporters,” said chairman Pakistan Leather Garments Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PLGMEA) Fawad Ijaz Khan.

Exporters said that German embassy has rejected about 150 visas to intending participants to the Heimtextil fair. They said that on an average around 400 to 450 exporters used to participate in the Heimtextil fair but this year hardly 200 have managed to get visa to take part in the fair.

Fawad Ijaz Khan said that 23 out of 30 members of PLGMEA were given the visas by the US embassy after a great hassle and long delays. He said that the US is the biggest market for our leather garment exports which stands at around $60 million per annum.

He also accused the US embassy staff of giving ill-treatment to visa applicants and the situation has become intolerable for any citizen to digest. The embassy takes more than 45 days from the date an appointment for interview is given and in case the applicant is between 16-45 years of age FBR clearance is also required which takes another 30 days.

Similarly, he said the Schengen visa for EU countries also cause a lot of hassle for exporters. The consulates of most of these countries are even not in Karachi and the applicant has to rush to Islamabad.

For applying business visas the PLGMEA chief said an exporter must already have business in Schengen countries and have travelled to these countries during the last two years. Even then he maintained over 25 days are required for issuance of business visa.

However, he said some of the western embassies are taking 6-8 weeks for processing business visa applications. This is creating serious concern among exporters seeking business visa for multiple countries.

Fawad Ijaz Khan has urged the government to look into this matter of grave concern and should take up the matter at diplomatic and political level because harsh business visa requirements are further aggravating the situation, particularly for the leather garment industry which is already faced with declining exports.