ISLAMABAD: The Saudi embassy in Islamabad on Saturday announced a significant reduction in visa fees for Pakistanis.

A request for reducing non-pilgrimage visa fees was made by the Pakistan government to Saudi authorities a few days ago.

The embassy said the implementation on the new fee structure was already started from Friday (Feb 15).

A press release issued by the embassy said that the fee for a single-entry visit visa had been reduced from 2,000 to 338 Saudi riyals. In dollar terms, this is equal to a reduction from $533 to $90.

The fee for multiple-entry visit visa has also been slashed from 3,000 to 675 Saudi riyals, which in dollar terms, amounts to a reduction from $800 to $180.

Saudi Arabia had increased the fees for business visas many folds in 2016, which had a financial impact on workers and labourers proceeding to the Kingdom for work, apart from those who were residing there along with their families.

Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2019