Naqvi: Visa-free entry with 25 countries to be finalised within six months
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said visa-free entry arrangements with 25 countries would be finalised within six months. He made the remarks while briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior on Thursday.
- Naqvi said visa-free arrangements with 25 countries would be finalised within six months.
- Visa-free arrangements already exist with Saudi Arabia and the UAE; a deal with Qatar is expected soon.
- Naqvi said 22,000 blue passports have been cancelled and new issuance is banned.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Thursday that visa-free entry arrangements with 25 countries would be finalised within the next six months. He was briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior, which was chaired by MNA Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz.
Naqvi said, "The value of the green passport is currently improving, and its rating will advance further over the next six months." He added that the matter needed a collective decision by parliament, given the visa-exemption negotiations, international commitments and the planned move to e-passports.
According to ProPakistani, visa-free arrangements have already been made with Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and a similar deal with Qatar is expected soon.
The minister linked the issue to blue passports, which are issued to officials and parliamentarians. The total number of blue passports stands at 70,000. Naqvi said most countries first ask how many blue passports have been issued before they consider visa-free agreements. He said, "Visa-free entry cannot be secured for 70,000 blue passports."
Some countries have indicated they could terminate visa-exemption agreements if blue passports are not reduced to 25,000. Naqvi said 22,000 blue passports have been cancelled and a ban has been placed on new issuance. Blue passports are now being issued to parliamentarians for three years.
State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry said excessive issuance of blue passports is affecting visa-free arrangements. Responding to a question from lawmaker Agha Rafiullah, he said the number of blue passports did have an impact on agreements with other countries.
Rafiullah disagreed and offered to surrender his own passport. He said, "We are representatives of the people. That is not a logical answer." He also demanded that the government identify the legal provisions governing blue passport issuance.
Committee members asked for a detailed breakdown of the 30,000 passports reduced from the overall number. Chaudhry assured the committee that the breakdown would be provided.
Why it matters
Green passport holders and overseas Pakistanis would gain easier travel if the visa-free arrangements go ahead. The minister linked progress to reducing the number of blue passports.
