ISLAMABAD: The Board of Investment (BoI) has announced that all foreigners intending to travel to Gwadar must have a no-objection certificate (NOC) from Balochistan’s home and tribal affairs department.

A BoI spokesperson told Dawn that steps were being taken for the safety of foreigners, including the Chinese working on investment projects such as the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

He said that along the corridor 27 economic zones would be set up and the country-specific economic zones had been earmarked for special security. The provincial home department is issuing two categories of NOCs – one for diplomats and high-ranking personalities to the heads of state, members of official delegations or embassy officials. The NOC will be issued by the home and tribal affairs department on the request of or information provided by embassies through the ministry of foreign affairs.

Under the second category, NOCs will be issued to foreigners working for private or government companies or projects on the recommendation of the relevant ministry and the BoI. Personal travel documents and recommendations of the ministry and BOI will be required for the NOC.

BoI said that without an NOC no foreign national would be allowed by the security personnel to leave Gwadar airport.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2016