Devil Soul
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After launching visa on arrival (VoA) facility for Pakistani senior citizens, India has initiated the process to provide group tourist visa on a reciprocal basis.
The group tourist visa was to be launched from March 15, but missed the deadline due to tension between the two countries after violation of ceasefire on the LoC.
A senior home ministry official said, "The moment New Delhi gets the list of authorized tour operators from Islamabad, the 'group tourist' visa would be launched. India has already identified 18 such tour\travel operators on its side and shared it with Pakistan."
According to the new liberalized visa pact between the two countries, the group tourist visa would be offered for 30 days to tourists traveling in groups with not less than 10 members and not more than 50 members, organized by approved tour operators or travel agents.
Though the pact was signed last September, it could not be operationalized until December 14, when Indian home minister Sushilkumar Shinde and his Pakistani counterpart Rehman Malik had formally launched the process.
Some clauses of the relaxed visa regime like multiple-entry and reporting-free visas for businessmen and allowing them to travel to five cities instead of the earlier three metros had come into force last December.
On April 1, both the countries had started VoA facility for each other's senior citizens, who are above 65 years. This is a single-entry visa, and granted for maximum 45 days. The facility was started at the Wagah border on reciprocal basis.
The VoA facility was scheduled to be started from January 15. But, it was put on hold in the wake of tension along the border. - See more at:
India to offer group tourist visa to Pakistanis | Pakistan Today | Latest news | Breaking news | Pakistan News | World news | Business | Sport and Multimedia
The group tourist visa was to be launched from March 15, but missed the deadline due to tension between the two countries after violation of ceasefire on the LoC.
A senior home ministry official said, "The moment New Delhi gets the list of authorized tour operators from Islamabad, the 'group tourist' visa would be launched. India has already identified 18 such tour\travel operators on its side and shared it with Pakistan."
According to the new liberalized visa pact between the two countries, the group tourist visa would be offered for 30 days to tourists traveling in groups with not less than 10 members and not more than 50 members, organized by approved tour operators or travel agents.
Though the pact was signed last September, it could not be operationalized until December 14, when Indian home minister Sushilkumar Shinde and his Pakistani counterpart Rehman Malik had formally launched the process.
Some clauses of the relaxed visa regime like multiple-entry and reporting-free visas for businessmen and allowing them to travel to five cities instead of the earlier three metros had come into force last December.
On April 1, both the countries had started VoA facility for each other's senior citizens, who are above 65 years. This is a single-entry visa, and granted for maximum 45 days. The facility was started at the Wagah border on reciprocal basis.
The VoA facility was scheduled to be started from January 15. But, it was put on hold in the wake of tension along the border. - See more at:
India to offer group tourist visa to Pakistanis | Pakistan Today | Latest news | Breaking news | Pakistan News | World news | Business | Sport and Multimedia