Pakistan includes Uzbekistan in Business Visa List

Ibn-e-Ameer

Islamabad: In another breakthrough, Pakistan has included Uzbekistan in the Business Visa List (BVL) for visa facilitation.

During recent years, Pakistan and Uzbekistan have boosted relations in different areas.

Prime Minister Imran Khan had also recently visited Uzbekistan, and two countries reiterated to enhance cooperation in different areas of the economy.

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The inclusion of Uzbekistan in the Business Visa List (BVL) will enhance business-to-business relations with Pakistan. The government of Pakistan would facilitate the business community of Uzbekistan to get a business visa.

Earlier, Uzbekistan was the first country from the Central Asian States that had started direct flights.
Central Asian states offer a significant opportunity for Pakistan to tap the potential of exports.

Pakistan has not tapped the full potential of exports to this region. Now, the present government is making efforts to explore this area to enhance exports.

Keeping in view this, the government has approved the inclusion of Uzbekistan in the Business Visa List (BVL) for visa facilitation.

According to the Interior Division, the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan had signed an agreement on simplification of Visa Procedures for Businessmen and Tourist Groups.
Pakistan’s cabinet had approved in this regard.

Article-3 of the said agreement stated that based on the confirmation for issuance of visa, diplomatic missions, and consular offices would issue visas in the following circumstances:

• Tourist visas up to 30 (thirty) days to citizens visiting a tourist in a tourist group.
• Multiple-entry visas up to 6 (six) months validity for representatives of business circles for business purposes;
• In exceptional cases, due to the need for additional consideration, the deadline for issuing visas might be extended, but for not more than ten days.

Pakistan had included earlier Uzbekistan in List-A countries. The government had authorized Pakistan Missions abroad to grant visit/tourist visas for three months validity and stay with double entries.

Thus, Pakistan was already facilitating Uzbekistan under the tourist/visit category as envisioned in the signed agreement.

The government had allowed missions to grant five years Multiple Business Visa within 24 hours to the businessmen of 95 BVL countries subject to the production of requisite documents.

Since Pakistan had not included Uzbekistan in the Business Visa List (BVL), business visa applications of Uzbek nationals were automatically shared with security agencies for their input and issuance of visas within four to six weeks.

This arrangement is not in line with the signed agreement.

Interior Division had proposed the government include Uzbekistan in the Business Visa List (BVL) to implement the agreement. The government has approved the inclusion of Uzbekistan in the Business Visa List (BVL) for visa facilitation.