Pakistan has launched an online visa application system for citizens of 126 countries, aiming to boost investment and trade.
Citizens of these countries can now obtain business and tourist visas within 24 hours through the electronic travel authorization form and will be exempt from visa processing fees. The Interior Ministry will introduce a control panel to oversee the online visa system, VisaGuide.World reports.
Pakistan Plans to Install E-gates at 9 of Its Airports
Amidst this decision, Pakistan will also establish an e-gates facility at Gwadar Port and nine airports nationwide. As Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said, these e-gates will be installed in the first phase at Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad airports.
Additionally, to facilitate the travel of Sikh Yatrees (pilgrims) on third-country passports, the cabinet also approved a particular sub-category for visa-on-arrival facility.
Pakistan has been facing a prolonged economic crisis, which has led it to seek financial assistance from friendly countries and global lenders such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
As a result, earlier this month, the country secured a staff-level agreement with the IMF for a $7 billion aid facility to bolster macroeconomic gains made over the past year. During this period, the country strengthened its currency reserves and reduced inflation from 38 percent to just over 12 percent.
Prime Minister Sharif pointed out that this would lead to a loss of several million dollars, but it would help encourage investments in the country.
It was mutually agreed that we should take this quantum jump to ensure ease of doing business in Pakistan.
The cabinet also approved signing an MoU between Pakistan and Denmark to promote public-private partnerships in logistics, transport, sustainable growth, water waste management, urban green development, alternative energy, and the construction of basic infrastructure.
Pakistan to Create Special & Banking Courts in Its 6 Cities
During the meeting, the cabinet announced the establishment of special courts and banking tribunals for banking matters, as recommended by the high courts of Islamabad, Balochistan, Sindh, Lahore, Peshawar, and the law ministry.
These special and banking courts – are to be established in the cities of Pakistan as follows:
- Islamabad
- Quetta
- Karachi
- Lahore
- Multan
- Peshawar
These special courts and banking tribunals will function under the Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP). At the same time, the cabinet revealed that it will also increase the number of board members of the Privatization Commission (KP).
In addition, a resolution was also passed by the cabinet in support of the Palestinians. It urged the international community to impose an embargo on Israel for its war crimes, in addition to initiating other legal, diplomatic, and administrative measures.