- Officials abroad ordered to assist foreign visa applicants, share details with Interior Ministry
Ministry of Interior on Thursday directed authorities concerned to ensure indiscriminate implementation of rules and regulations regarding issuance of visas to foreigners as well as their arrival and stay in Pakistan.
In a meeting, chaired by Minister for Interior Affairs Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, it has been decided to impose complete ban on issuance of visas on incomplete documents and all such foreigners would not be allowed to enter in the country and to indulge in any kind of activity.
In this regard, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan’s missions abroad, Civil Aviation Authority and the Immigration Department were directed to ensure indiscriminate implementation of rules and regulations regarding issuance of visas, arrival of foreigners and stay in the country.
The meeting was also attended by interior secretary, advocate general, National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) chairman and senior officials of the ministry and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
The meeting decided that all missions abroad and personnel deputed for visa issuance would be responsible for complete assistance to foreign visa applicants and for maintaining record and sharing details with the Ministry of Interior forthwith.
Taking strict notice of negligence in ensuring implementation of set rules and regulations and other irregularities in connection with those foreigners who come to Pakistan for hunting purposes, the minister directed all missions, civil aviation, FIA and immigration authorities to make sure that all foreign delegations and their staff should be issued visas only after provision of required documents.
The foreigners would only be allowed to enter Pakistan after establishing their legitimacy. The minister further said that details of foreign delegates regarding their arrival in Pakistan and their activities during stay would be provided to the ministry at least one week before. He said that this should also be ensured that prior security clearance for visa should be sought from the Ministry of Interior in case of need.
He directed the Civil Aviation Authority and FIA to ensure that transportation of staff of foreign delegates and guests coming in advance to Pakistan for hunting purposes would be made only through international airports and no one should be allowed to enter Pakistan without required immigration process. He said that negligence would not be tolerated and those responsible for the sloth would be taken to task.
He directed FIA and the Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) to make sure establishment of counters equipped with all necessary facilities for the immigration clearance of foreign heads of states and their guests who would come to Pakistan through private flights at any airport with prior approval of the government.
In view of irregularities in visa matters in the past, it is important to review visa laws and relevant SOPs and implementation must be ensured, the minister said. In the past, national security was compromised, laws of the land were violated and national image was damaged through issuance of visas illegally, he said, adding that integrity and sovereignty of the country demands that implementation of rules and regulations must be ensured without any discrimination.
