ISLAMABAD: Taking notice of problems being faced by Afghan citizens and plug in loopholes of illegal immigration, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved a new visa policy for Afghan nationals going abroad via Pakistan.

Talking to Dawn, the head of PM’s Strategic Reforms Initiatives, Salman Sufi said that under the new policy a transit visa of 30 days would be issued within 24 hours by the Pakistan government to Afghan nationals. The decision, he said, had been taken on a proposal floated by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah.

Mr Sufi said that upon the receipt of such a request from the host embassy in Pakistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) would immediately process the request for transit visa of up to 30 days. “Thereafter, upon the rece­ipt of the immigration approval, embassy of the host country will intimate (MoFA) and the ministry will forward the case to the interior ministry for clearance within 24 hours,” he said.

Appreciating the decision, Mr Sufi said the new mechanism was manifestation of the government’s resolve to help Afghan natio­nals and strengthen brotherly ties with Afghanistan.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2022

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.