April 27, 2008	Sunday	Rabi-us-Sani 20, 1429

KARACHI, April 26: The Chinese consulate has introduced stringent rules for visitors from Pakistan seeking business visa.

The visa-seekers will now be required to submit nine basic documents in view of security measures being taken ahead of the Olympics to be held in Beijing in August.

The applicants have been asked to submit a government letter from China, letter from the host company in China, company’s letter from the sponsor, visa application form with one photo pasted, hotel booking and a return ticket with confirmed booking, photocopy of the passport and the original passport, ID card copy, photocopy of recent visas and of entry and exit pages (at least three visas) and a bank statement.

These details are given in an important notice handed over to the officials of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), who visited the Chinese consulate last week.

The consulate has also informed the KCCI members that “all types of visas except business visa are closed till September 2008.”

It said the visitors planning first visit to China should come personally.

Besides, residents, passport holders and NIC holders of Punjab and the NWFP must go to the Chinese embassy in Islamabad, the notice added.

A KCCI official said that the chamber had started informing its members about the change in visa policy by the Chinese government.

They will be asked to fulfill all the formalities required by the consulate so that the necessary documents could be attached along with the visa recommendation letter of the chamber.