Pakistan Welcomes 126 Countries: 90 Days of Visa-Free Exploration
Pakistan has opened its doors to the world with a new visa policy, which is expected to boost tourism and investment while bringing families closer. Citizens of 126 countries can now travel to Pakistan for up to 90 days without needing to pay a visa fee from August 14, 2024. This is an unprecedented move that makes Pakistan more and more a favorite country for travelers, and hospitality professionals.
A New Era for Pakistani Tourism and Investment
The announcement, described as a “game changer” for the country in a statement from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to local media, is part of an effort aimed at transforming Pakistan into a tourism and business-friendly destination. The policy is intended to make it easier for people to enter, rather than walk into a wall of bureaucracy that has kept so many other visitors out.
A press conference was held in Islamabad, where Federal Minister of Information Attaullah Tarar explained the changes in policy. He said the E-Visa fees for visitors from these 126 countries would be abolished fully. This will be a visa that is free of charge, and it streamlines the application process in order to allow for faster processing.
Streamlined Application Process
One of the main elements of this visa policy reform is about coming down to a drastic reduction in intraform questions. Previously, applicants had to work through almost a hundred questions, but the new form has been cut back to only 30 questions. With this move, and the fast-track just 24-hour processing time, travelers will no longer have to complete lengthy paperwork.
The new policy will have a special benefit for the citizens of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar; collectively known as the GCC-6. The development will make it more convenient than ever for Gulf nationals to explore the business and tourism opportunities in Pakistan as they can now obtain a visa on arrival just by presenting their passports.
The 126 Countries Welcomed by Pakistan
The new visa policy also includes countries from Europe to Asia, Africa, and the Americas as well. The citizens of 126 countries mentioned below would get the E-Visa absolutely for free and will receive it within 24 hours after applying through the online portal source: Visas News
A Comprehensive Approach to Ease Travel
This visa reform is part of the new policy that Pakistan will be implementing to open its doors for easier and faster travel. E-gates was made part of the Gwadar Port and nine major airports throughout Pakistan including Karachi, Lahore Islamabad in July 2024 by the government. The e-gates are intended to expedite and enhance the security checking of passengers.
In addition, the government has also opened options such as visa-on-arrival for Sikh Yatrees (pilgrims) who hold third-country passports to make them on their religious path by visiting Pakistan.
Conclusion
The move by Pakistan to introduce visa-free travel for such a large number of countries is one in the right direction as it struggles against outside perceptions and attempts to open its doors wider. By streamlining its visa issuance methods, along with the expansion of Pakistan’s Online Visa System — they just basically tell that they have opened their doors to tourists, business professionals, and even the holiest people who come for pilgrim purposes. With breathtaking landscapes, a deep cultural history, and growing business opportunities — there has never been a better time to experience Pakistan. The perfect three months of exploration, the journey of a lifetime