ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has completely waived the visa fee for the citizens of as many as 126 countries. In a major change in visa policy aimed at attracting tourists and investment from across the world. 

The decision, dubbed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif a “quantum jump” to attract businessmen, investors, tourists and other travellers and to bring ease of doing business, was taken at the federal cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

While relaxing the visa policy, the cabinet approved the enforcement of online visa application system under which citizens of 126 countries would get business and tourist visas within 24 hours and would be exempt from paying visa processing fee.

An official handout issued by PM House quoted the prime minister as saying the cost of visa processing after the waiver would be covered through foreign exchange earned through investment and tourism, including religious tourism of which Pakistan has immense potential.

Not only the visitors would get visas within 24 hours through the electronic travel authorisation form, but also get the facility of e-gates, which would be established at Gwadar Port and nine airports across Pakistan, according to the statement. Initially, the e-gates would be installed at Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi airports.

Moreover, for the travel facilitation of Sikh Yatrees (pilgrims) having passports of a third country, the cabinet approved a separate sub-category for visa-on-arrival facility. For this purpose, it was decided that a dashboard would be introduced at the interior ministry to supervise the online visa system.

A source said that the visa policy was relaxed for businessmen and tourists so that they can apply for visa online, even a day before travel.

The decision of the cabinet would be implemented by the interior ministry and the Foreign Office, the source said, adding that all the 126 countries would be informed through the FO.