ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet deliberated over the Hajj policy 2019 while approving a new visa policy in a meeting on Thursday.
The meeting, which was chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, was informed that this year 184,210 Pakistanis will perform Hajj and applications would be accepted from February 20, with the 60 per cent Hajj quota allocated to the government and remaining 40 per cent to the private operators.
Moreover, the cabinet was also told that there will be no need for people of age 80 and above to enter a draw. Entering the draw is also not required for the people who have been unsuccessful for three consecutive years. The government also ended subsidy on Hajj.
Hajj expenses are to be divided into two zones; expenses for the northern zone would be Rs436,975 and for the southern zone would be Rs427,975. The religious affairs ministry had recommended the government to provide Rs45,000 subsidy per Hajji.
NEW VISA POLICY APPROVED:
The cabinet also approved the new visa relaxation policy.
The interior secretary briefed the cabinet about the new visa policy.
Under the new policy, on-arrival visas for 50 countries and e-visas for 175 countries will be introduced in order to boost the tourism industry in the country. The cabinet was briefed that under the new policy, Pakistan would relax visas for 190 countries.
Following Prime Minister Imran Khan’s directives Mayalasia has also been included in the new visa policy.
Earlier this month, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry had said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government has decided to introduce on-arrival visas for 50 countries and e-visas for 175 countries in order to boost the tourism industry in the country.
The minister had also explained that work visa to citizens of 96 countries will be granted within 7-10 days after they receive a letter from the Board of Investment.
Similarly, diplomatic visas have been extended from one year to three years while student visas have been extended from one to two years. Further, visas granted for religious purposes will be valid for 45 days.
The restrictions formerly placed on journalists barring them from travelling to more than three specified cities has also been lifted, Fawad had explained while adding that the Information Ministry will process their visas.
“They can go anywhere in Pakistan, they don’t need a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) anymore,” he had said in reference to the requirement of obtaining NOCs before travelling to Gilgit-Baltistan, Cantonment areas and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
“We want tourism to be promoted, to become the foundation for change in Pakistan,” the minister had said.
The approval for the new visa regime was granted during a meeting between Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Thursday.
