ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The federal government has decided to launch a new policy for business visas to ease foreign investors and entrepreneurs, including Afghan nationals who are already involved in trade in Pakistan.
The move comes as part of efforts to increase business-friendly policies and control cross-border economic activity through an open visa regime, sources in the Ministry of Interior have revealed.
Multiple-entry visas for foreign entrepreneurs
According to the new policy, business visas will be granted to those doing business in Pakistan and will enable them to lawfully invest, trade, or operate commercial ventures.
Interior Ministry officials assured that the policy would involve the issuance of multiple-entry visas to facilitate easier travel in and out of Pakistan by business individuals without running into bureaucratic problems.
“Business visas will be issued to people who are actually engaged in business in Pakistan, and multiple-entry facilities will be provided,” informed a ministry official privy to the proposal.
Afghan nationals to gain from new policy
Another important feature of the new policy is that Afghan nationals already operating or intending to operate businesses in Pakistan will be included.
According to the new regime, Afghan citizens will be eligible to apply for official business visas to pursue their trade-related activities on a legitimate basis. Existing entrepreneurs in Pakistan will qualify for a renewed visa under the new system.
“Afghan citizens engaged in business in Pakistan will now be able to pursue their activities under the new business visa,” officials at the Interior Ministry explained.
