ISLAMABAD – The government on Thursday decided that Pakistani artists and other visitors travelling to India would have to obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Interior Ministry prior to their visit. An inter-ministerial meeting chaired by Interior Minister Rehman Malik decided to regulate foreign visits of public servants, artists and journalists, in the interest of Pakistan’s security and to safeguard country’s prestige, an official statement said, adding that the no-objection certificate would be required for travel to India in the first phase.
No-objection certificates for travelling to countries other than India would be made a necessity in the next phase. “In the first phase that starts from March 15, 2011, all categories of visitors would be required to obtain an no-objection certificate from the Interior Ministry for their visits to India. Detailed instructions are being issued in this regard in consultation with ministries of foreign affairs, culture, education and information and broadcasting,” it said.
It was decided that those proceeding abroad were required to abide by the laws of the country they intended to visit.
