Pakistan relaxes visa regime for 48 countries

Pakistan on Saturday announced to have a relaxed visa regime for 48 countries.

Out of these 48 countries, all nationals of the five countries will visit Pakistan without any visa. These countries include Nepal, Maldives, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago and Western Samoa.

While citizens of 12 countries holding diplomatic passports shall be able to visit Pakistan without any visa.

Similarly, citizens of 31 countries holding diplomatic and official passports shall get a visa-free entry in Pakistan.

The Pakistan government has taken this step to promote tourism in Pakistan however it is interesting to note how tourism can be promoted when ordinary citizens have not been allowed to have visa-free entry.

Out of five countries that have been granted visa-free entry only Maldives and Nepal are well know countries while Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago and Western Samoa are less know countries and perhaps nobody would be interested to visit Pakistan all the way from a far off continent.

Analysts believe this visa regime may not help the government achieve desired results. It can only be beneficial when ordinary citizens are allowed visa relaxation, they opined.

ePaper - Nawaiwaqt