Conditions, requirements for issuance of business visas to Chinese under review: Nisar

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Interior on Wednesday decided to review the conditions and requirements for issuance of business and work visas to Chinese nationals.

The decision, taken during a high-level meeting with Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, decided to ensure transparency in the visa process in order to lessen misuse of the visa-friendly regime that exists between the two countries.

“It is a part of ministry's efforts to ensure maximum security of the Chinese nationals visiting Pakistan on various visa categories and to streamline and regulate the entire process of visa issuance to Chinese nationals,” said a statement released by the ministry.

"Taking note of few incidents of provision of forged and fake documents of ghost companies to the embassies for issuance of Pakistani visa, it was decided that in future business visas and visa on arrival to the Chinese nationals would only be granted after production of invitation or assignment letter duly certified and endorsed by the recognised Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the country along with letter from commercial attaches and other designated officers of Pakistan who are posted abroad for the promotion of business activities," the press release added.

It was decided that the National Database Registration Authority (Nadra) will assist the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) in putting in place and electronic system for sharing of information between the chambers of commerce and industry and the immigration authorities.

The meeting also decided to regulate the process of granting extensions in business visas and to immediately withdraw the powers of regional passport offices for granting visa extension.

It was also decided to rationalise the process of issuance of work visas to Chinese nationals, who intend to visit Pakistan for various government approved or sponsored projects.

Nisar also directed the ministry to plug all loopholes in the issuance of visas to Chinese nationals and to expedite consolidation of data of Chinese nationals present in Pakistan so that the data could be shared with security agencies of the country for ensuring security arrangements.

The interior minister further added that a comprehensive mechanism should be put in place for sharing of information of not only China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) related workers, but also of other Chinese nationals visiting the country for various jobs.