THIS is about a Turkish online visa, since I have plans to visit Istanbul next month for a two-day stay.

I was told that that a complimentary transit visa is issued online for Pakistanis under certain conditions. I have been trying to find a way to apply for an online transit visa, but instead I was told I would get a tourist visa for $60 for six months. I went to the Turkish Airline office at Lahore airport and was advised to apply for a transit visa through a courier service to the Turkish embassy in Islamabad. This will take many days.

It is not understood why the transit visa issue is so difficult compared to a tourist visa which you get in three days online. I request the Turkish embassy to guide me.

Mohammad Bashir
Lahore

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2019