PESHAWAR, Nov 3: Relaxation in visa policy by Pakistan embassy in Kabul is causing influx of Afghans as about 600 Afghans with their families are crossing into Pakistan daily via Torkham gate, immigration officials said here on Sunday.

In addition, a considerable number of Afghans are also easily finding their ways into Pakistan through different unfrequented routes to avoid harsh weather and possible food shortage in the coming winter.

During a visit to Torkham border town, some 45km from here, this correspondent witnessed the rush of Afghans in front of the immigration office while a large number of visitors waited for their turn.

Immigration officials said they were receiving some 600 Afghan visa holders every day since Pakistani embassy in Kabul had softened its policy. The embassy grants six-month multiple entry visa, while its consulate in Jalalabad, Nangarhar province, issues double entry visa.

Pakistani embassy for the first time has introduced multiple visa facility for the Afghans.

Other neighbouring countries used to charge visa fee from the Afghan national, but Pakistani embassy grants visa without charging any fee from them. The facility offered to them is causing hardships for immigration staff at the border.

“About one per cent among them are business people, who use this facility. The rest are common visitors and daily wagers misusing this facility,” an official told Dawn at Torkahm checkpost. However, Afghan nationals are appreciating Islamabad’s visa policy, saying that Pakistan embassy in Kabul was doing very excellent job.

Immigration staff said in the beginning they received only 30 to 40 Afghans at Torkham gate carrying valid travelling documents, but now the number had increased due to relaxation in policy.

Officials sources said Afghans had a very easy access to get blue-passports and presently the transitional government reportedly running short of passport copies. “The  Kabul’s interior ministry has ordered for printing fresh copies to meet the demands,” a source conceded.

Information gathered by Dawn revealed that a large number of Afghans were sneaking into Pakistani tribal areas  through unfrequented routes.

Sources said most of the illegal Afghans were using Bazaar Route, Khyber Agency and border security guards were fully facilitate them on their way to Peshawar.