Govt approves ‘visa on arrival’ for Qatari nationals

ISLAMABAD: On the demand of Qatari Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has decided to provide ‘visa on arrival’ facility to Qatari nationals, it was reliably learnt on Saturday.

As per details available with this scribe, the Cabinet Division has asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to implement the federal government’s conditions regarding ‘visa on arrival’ facility for Qatari nationals.

The conditions for Qatari nationals to avail the facility include passport validity for at least six months, a confirmed return ticket and possession of cash equivalent to $1,500/valid credit card.

The visa on arrival (tourist/visit) facility will be available for all Qatari passport holders, including diplomatic, special and ordinary passports, free of charge, with single or multiple entries, without requirement of electronic travel authorization (ETA) at any port of entry for a period of 30 days (extendable by another 30 days subject to certain conditions).

Sources privy to the development informed that the government has granted this facility to Qatari nationals keeping in view the interest of Qatari investors in Pakistan.

They informed that the decision in this regard was taken on the directions of Prime Minister’s Secretariat and with the cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

It is pertinent to mention that during the visit of Qatari Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani to Pakistan in June, both countries had decided to reciprocate the visa on arrival (tourist/visit) facility.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier informed the federal cabinet that the State of Qatar has extended the facility of visa waiver to Pakistani nationals “who can now acquire ‘visa on arrival’ and can stay for a period of 30 days with single or multiple entries (to be extended by 30 days on certain conditions)”.

The conditions for Pakistanis include passport validity for at least six months, a confirmed return ticket, cash equivalent to Qatari Riyals 5,000/valid credit card, and certification of polio vaccination.

Ahmad Ahmadani
The author is an investigative journalist. He can be reached at [email protected].

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