On the special instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Ministry of Interior, led by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Secretary Capt (Retd) Muhammad Khurram Agha, gave particular attention to bringing significant changes in the Visa Section aiming to promote Pakistan’s positive image and attract tourists from abroad. For years, improvement in the Visa Section was a vital part which was due under the stewardship of Shireen.
Now the outstanding performance of the Visa Section has encouraged people obtaining visas for Pakistan through an efficient and hassle-free process. This introduction of a new approach in the visa application process for visitors to Pakistan from 120 countries by way of saving fees and lengthy paperwork. This has led to a significant boost in Pakistan’s tourism and enhanced the country’s image internationally.
According to reliable sources in the Ministry of Interior, the Secretary of Interior has formed a special team in this regard. Headed by Deputy Secretary Visa Shireen Hina Asghar, this team is making the Visa Section’s efforts highly productive to serve the nation. After the appointment of Shireen Hina Asghar, reforms have been implemented in the Visa Section which are yielding long-lasting results.
Conspicuous improvement is now evident as the on-arrival and E-Visa Departments have improved tremendously. A massive number of people are applying for visas-on-arrival and e-visas and benefitting in a better way from the facility after its improvement. Now extension visas and other visas are being issued within 24 hours. All hurdles or gaps for obtaining visa extensions have been brought to zero and difficulties have been eliminated from the Visa Section.
To improve the efficiency, result-oriented measures have been carried out to combat the slow process and inefficiencies. The data shows that the number of people coming to Pakistan has increased tremendously in just three months after the visa-on-arrival is further improved, all the world’s religious tourists and business visa holders in Pakistan will increase immensely. Besides that, the country will benefit immensely and the positive face of Pakistan will be exposed to the public.
It is said that Interior Secretary Capt (Retd) Muhammad Khurram Agha, who is busy fixing other issues and impediments of the Ministry of Interior, calls for the report of the visa section on a daily basis. The Secretary of Interior is very concerned about resolving all the pending matters immediately as such he has taken and is taking a number of steps not only to improve the performance of the Visa Section but also to raise a positive face of Pakistan.
Headed by Deputy Secretary Visa Shireen Hina Asghar, the Visa Section highlights a marked improvement in facilitating foreign travelers by means of making the entire process hassle-free both for the incoming and outgoing people.
Sources say now, there are no pending cases and problems are being solved instantly every day. Efforts are being made for visas-on-arrival services. The Government of Pakistan and the Interior Secretary remain proud and owe this initiative taken by the Ministry of Interior of Pakistan.
