ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: The government has liberalized the country's visa policy to facilitate foreign investors and businessmen with a view to boost foreign investment, Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao said on Thursday.

He told reporters in a press conference that the policy had been relaxed for the nationals of 28 countries who used to visit Pakistan frequently for trade and business purposes. However, he was reluctant to name them.

Under the new policy the businessmen of these countries would get Pakistani visa at airports at the time of their arrival in the country. He said the new policy would come into force within next 15 to 20 days and special counters would be installed at the airports for the issuance of visas.

In this connection all stakeholders including ministry of defence, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), ministry of tourism, Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation, ministry of commerce, Export Promotion Bureau, Board of Investment, DG, (I&P) and Federal Investigation Agency will provide maximum logistic support for establishment of facilitation desk at the major airports for issuance of visa on arrival to incoming businessmen, investors at the earliest possible.

Similarly, tourism, business directory will be made available at the facilitation desk by the PTDC and the BoI, the minister said. The visa policy, he said, had also been liberalized for the nationals of other countries and they would get Pakistani visa within 24 hours time.

Responding to a question about the previous visa policy, the minister said under the previous policy visas were not issued at the airports at the time of entry and even businessmen had to get visa from Pakistani consulate in their own countries.

Under the new policy, he said Pakistan missions abroad would not grant visa to nationals belonging to third country and holder of valid residence permit. "Request for visas of a third country origin should be decided only by the ambassador, high commissioner, head of mission and consulate," he added.

Describing criteria for seeking visas by businessmen, he said recommendation letter from chamber of commerce and industries of the respective country of the foreigner was required.

Invitation letter from business organization duly recommended by the concerned trade organization/ association in Pakistan and re-commendatory letter by Investor Consular of BoI posted at mission abroad is also necessary.

Mr Sherpao said missions abroad could issue up to five years multiple business visa within 24 hours to businessmen of 28 countries. Similarly, missions were authorized to issue entry visa for one month to genuine businessmen of these countries.