ISLAMABAD, June 30: Pakistan on Friday liberalised its visa policy for tourists, businessmen and journalists of 175 countries, including India, who could obtain visa on arrival.

Under the new policy, visa applications of tourists, businessmen and journalists from the 175 countries will not need clearance from Islamabad and Pakistani missions abroad have been empowered to issue various types of visas. Earlier the number of such countries was 48.

Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Sherpao said at a news conference that the policy also provided a number of other relaxations, including increase in the number of countries whose citizens could get visa on arrival.

Tourism Minister Nilofar Bakhtiar, Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah and Additional Secretary Qamar Zaman were present at the press conference.

Ms Bakhtiar said that 23 states have been given the status of tourist-friendly countries and group tourists from these countries travelling through designated tour operators in Pakistan would get visa on arrival.

Similarly, the number of countries under the business visa list had been increased from 48 to 69 and their citizens would get visa on arrival on production of one of three types of documents — a letter from chamber of commerce and industry, business organisation recommended by trade organisations in Pakistan and a recommendatory letter by investment counsellor of Board of Investment or commercial attaché posted in missions abroad.

However, the rules for issuing visa to foreign students for enrolment in seminaries have been toughened, the minister said.

Visa rules have been eased for Indian businessmen, group tourists, pilgrims, diplomats, civil society persons, senior citizens, widows and divorcees.

Under the revised policy, Pakistani missions abroad have been authorised to issue various types of visas to tourists and visitors without referring their applications to ministries at home. The minister said that the revised policy would encourage tourists, investors and businessmen and would eventually give a considerable boost to trade, travel and tourism in Pakistan.