For years many Indian-Pakistani couples in the UAE have been unable to travel to each other’s countries because of strict visa rules. But a landmark agreement is about to change that
By Sharmila Dhal, Senior Reporter, XPRESS
Dubai: India and Pakistan are to finalise a landmark agreement on Thursday to ease visa rules for people from the two countries. Expected to come into force in August, the new rules will bene-fit hundreds of cross-border couples in the UAE.
Indian media reports said the breakthrough agreement, being signed in Islamabad, will allow India and Pakistan to issue group tourist visas for citizens and multiple-entry visas for families of individuals with spouses from the other country. One-year visas will be issued to businessmen while visas on arrival will be given to senior citizens and children under 12 at Wagah-Attari.
They said the group tourist visas will be valid for 30 days and the visas on arrival for 45 days. The multiple-entry visas for families will be valid for two years.
Group tourist visas will be given to groups of 10-50 persons to undertake tours arranged by approved travel agents who will be responsible for police-related formalities. School and college students will also be able to visit each other’s countries in this category.
Categories: Asia, India, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates