Visa-Free Entry Arrangements with 25 Countries to Be Finalised Within Six Months: Mohsin Naqvi
ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said that Pakistan expects to finalise arrangements for visa-free entry and improved travel facilities with 25 countries within the next six months, while the international ranking of the Green Passport is also expected to improve further.
Speaking at a meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Interior, Naqvi briefed members on the number and cancellation of blue passports, Pakistan’s Green Passport ranking and negotiations with various countries for visa-free travel arrangements.
The interior minister said the final decision regarding blue passports rested with Parliament. He explained that foreign countries usually seek details about the total number of blue passports issued by Pakistan before entering into visa-free travel agreements. Some countries have made it clear that such agreements could be terminated or cancelled if the number of blue passports exceeds 25,000 to 30,000.
According to Naqvi, approximately 70,000 blue passports are currently in circulation in Pakistan, a situation that has made several countries reluctant to offer visa-free entry facilities.
In view of these concerns, around 22,000 blue passports have already been cancelled, while the issuance of additional blue passports has been temporarily suspended.
He added that serving members of the National Assembly and Senate would be issued blue passports in accordance with the duration of their constitutional terms.
Naqvi said agreements concerning blue passports with Kenya, Switzerland and Italy had reached their final stages.
He further stated that the process of securing visa-free entry arrangements with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had been completed, while an agreement with Qatar was also expected to be finalised soon.
The minister said positive progress was being made towards improving the international standing of Pakistan’s Green Passport and expressed optimism that further improvement in its global ranking would be visible over the next six months.
He also said Pakistan was moving towards a fully electronic passport system to protect the country against forgery and fraud.
Discussing environmental improvements in Islamabad, Naqvi said experts from botanical gardens would be invited to Pakistan to conduct a scientific study and identify suitable tree species for the federal capital. Future plantation plans would be developed in light of their recommendations.
