According to official documents available with Business Recorder, as per the new modifications in the existing visa regime National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) will develop an integrated database of foreigners for their registration and tracking. This would include a system for online transmission of information from Pakistan's missions about visas issued, their registration at the time of entry, and tracking o their inland movement, it said.
Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) will make provision in the Integrated Border Management System (IBMS) to record the visa expiry date of every foreigner on entry into Pakistan, and submit daily report to Ministry of Interior about those foreigners who have not left after the expiry of their visas.
As per the new modification, Regional Passport Offices (RPOs) are no longer authorized to extend visa in any category. Visa extension cases will be dealt with by Director General (DG), Immigration and Passport (IMPASS). DG IMPASS is authorized to extend visas up to a maximum period of six months, including initial visa period, on case to case basis and only after being provided with justification for visa extension and details of activities of the foreigner. Any extension beyond six months will be referred to Ministry of Interior for approval of Secretary and Minister for Interior.
The document further said that Pakistan embassy in Beijing will send information online to Nadra about all visas issued on a daily basis. Missions in China will be instructed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs to put a stamp " CPEC Work Visa" in case of those Chinese coming to Pakistan to work on CPEC projects.
Grant of three-month validity Business Visa, original recommendation letter of Chambers of Commerce in Pakistan and original recommendation letter of Pakistan's commercial attaché in home country of the foreigner will be mandatory.
The document said, for grant of one year work visa to Chinese working on government approved/sponsored projects both in public and private sector, clearance certificate from the Chinese Ministry of Public Security will be a mandatory requirement in addition to letters from the Chinese companies and letters from the relevant sponsor government organization in Pakistan.
Work visa extension will be granted by Secretary Ministry of Interior for the duration of the project, after seeking feedback of the relevant sponsor government organization. All visas will be issued under intimation to the security agencies, it said.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017