The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has waived off the requirement of a no-objection certificate (NOC) for foreigners seeking to visit certain areas of Pakistan, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry announced on Tuesday.
He tweeted: “Another landmark achieved. NOC regime for foreigners comes to an end. [PM] Imran’s vision is to make Pak heaven for tourists and following [a] new visa regime, this important policy decision of ending NOC requirements is a leap forward.”
Another landmark acheived NOC regime for foreigners come to an end, @ImranKhanPTI vision is to make Pak a heaven for tourists and following new Visa regime this important policy decision of ending NOC requirements is a leap forward #DiscoverPakistan pic.twitter.com/LEjU0QcQk5
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) March 26, 2019
In a notification of the Ministry of Interior, it said that as per cabinet decision dated January 31, 2019: “Free movement of foreigners shall be allowed in open cantonments except prohibited and restricted areas with visible signboards. The border crossings will be open and non-restricted.”
“AJK and GB and Chitral will be non-restricted/ non-prohibited except 10 miles of Pak-China border, Pak-Afghan border (Wakhan corridor), AJK (along LoC), GB (along LoC), Siachen (along line of actual contact)” the notification added.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Imran Khan said his government was rolling out a new visa regime to facilitate tourism in the country as well as attract foreign investment.
According to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s official Twitter account, the new e-visa scheme will facilitate visitors from 175 countries.