December 27, 2005	Tuesday	Ziqa’ad 24, 1426

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 26: Pakistan plans to issue as many as 8000 visas to Indian fans for the upcoming cricket series between the two countries. A practical mechanism for the grant of visas was devised during a meeting held on Monday which was presided over by Secretary Interior Syed Kamal Shah.

For the Test matches, the duration of visa would be eight days while for one-dayers its period would be three days for a specific city, Qamar Abbas Mirza, an official of the Interior Minister said.

The Indian cricketers arrive in Pakistan on Jan 6 for a three-Test series and five one-day Internationals.

Qamar said that tickets for both the Pakistani and Indian spectators would be sold by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) through the internet.

The Indian fans will have to present printouts of their tickets to the Pakistan missions who will then issue visas.

Visas for journalists, broadcasters, advertising agents, cameramen and others will have to be routed through the PCB who will send the request to the Interior Ministry at least 10 days before the match.

All visas will be ticket-specific, Qamar said.

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