Ahsan Iqbal says no new visa policy

• Interior minister says already existing policy had been made more transparent

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal here on Wednesday informed the National Assembly that the government had not made any change in its security policy.

Responding to a point of order raised by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Shireen Mazari, the minister said, “No ease had been made in security policy nor any change had been made in it.”

Earlier, Shireen Mazari, during a session of the National Assembly, claimed: “The scheme has been started on American pressure. This step by the government has posed serious threats to the national security,” adding that the scheme had earlier resulted in the US spy agency’s presence in the country.

Ahsan, however, said that security policy had been made keeping in view the interest of the country.

He said that no new visa policy had been introduced in the country but the already existing visa policy had been made more transparent.

The minister said that visa had been issued to visitors only through registered tour operators, adding all the tour operators had the policy guidelines.

The minister pointed out that Pakistan has recently been declared an emerging tourist destination and the visa policy is aimed at promoting tourism.

He assured the house that under this policy, no Blackwater and other elements threatening the security would be allowed to enter the country.

Ahsan said that international non-government organisations (INGOs) will be facilitated to work for the development of the country.

He said that the NGOs working against the interest of the country would not be allowed to operate.

He said that NGOs that were asked to stop their operation can appeal within 90 days of government’s decision. However, he added, if the decision came against the NGOs within 90 days following their appeals, the NGOs would have to stop working.

Responding on interior minister’s statement during the session, former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said he had put a ban on the visa-on-arrival policy, saying it had guaranteed that Pakistan was treated equally.

“Only those countries that allowed visa-on-arrival to Pakistanis had been facilitated,” he said, adding, “If our minister has to go to the embassy to get the visa and if we pay more, the countries we’re facilitating should too.”

These realities, he insisted, must not be politicised.

He said that visa policy had been devised keeping in view the interest of the country. He said that INGOs are working with the federal government, while NGOs are operating under provincial government domain.