RIP Tourism in Gilgit Baltistan..

[bananarepublic]

Foreign tourists barred from visiting GB without no-objection certificate

JAMIL NAGRI

GILGIT: The federal interior ministry has imposed a ban on visits of foreign tourists to Gilgit-Baltistan without obtaining a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the ministry in Islamabad.

A letter recently sent by the ministry to the Gilgit-Baltistan government says that it has been reported that foreigners are frequently visiting Gilgit-Baltistan without obtaining an NOC or security clearance from the ministry, which is against the rules.

The letter asks the authorities concerned to take concrete measures to curb the practice.

Reacting to the development, the Pakistan Association of Tour Operators (PATO) has said the move is tantamount to the “economic murder” of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Talking to Dawn, PATO joint secretary Muhammad Ali said the imposition of the ban would adversely affect the tourism industry in the region.

“Seventy per cent of GB people depend on tourism to earn a livelihood as there is no other industry in the region. The tourism industry in the region has already been destroyed after the situation unfolding in South Asia in the wake of 9/11,” he said. “The industry has also been damaged because of operations against terrorists in the north of Pakistan and the Nanga Parbat massacre of 2012,” he said.

Mr Ali said there was no precedent for foreigners to obtain an NOC for visiting tourist points after getting visas.

“Tour operators face difficulties in obtaining visas for foreign tourists. The condition of an NOC would discourage foreigners from visiting GB,” he said.

Mr Ali said that the move would move would also tarnish Pakistan’s image abroad.

Former PATO president Amjad Ayub said it took foreign tourists two or three months to obtain Pakistan’s visa and they were issued visa only after getting NOC from the interior ministry. He warned that further restrictions would deter foreign tourists from visiting Pakistan and ultimately they would cancel their plans to visit the country.

Mr Ayub said that foreign tourists visited the country to enjoy their holidays and they would be irked by such restrictions.

After getting Pakistan’s visa, foreign tourists were not required to get NOC for visiting a particular part of the country, he said and added that restrictions on foreigners’ visit to GB were injustice with the local people.

“Tourists visiting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or Sindh are not required to get NOC, then why for GB,” he asked.

Tourism in the region could not thrive on domestic tourists, Mr Ayub said.

PATO President Irfanullah Baig said the association would take up the issue with the authorities concerned and called upon the federal government to rescind the decision. Courtesy: Dawn

http://pamirtimes.net/2017/04/28/65487/

 

[Hell hound]

Foreign tourists barred from visiting GB without no-objection certificate

JAMIL NAGRI

GILGIT: The federal interior ministry has imposed a ban on visits of foreign tourists to Gilgit-Baltistan without obtaining a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the ministry in Islamabad.

A letter recently sent by the ministry to the Gilgit-Baltistan government says that it has been reported that foreigners are frequently visiting Gilgit-Baltistan without obtaining an NOC or security clearance from the ministry, which is against the rules.

The letter asks the authorities concerned to take concrete measures to curb the practice.

Reacting to the development, the Pakistan Association of Tour Operators (PATO) has said the move is tantamount to the “economic murder” of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Talking to Dawn, PATO joint secretary Muhammad Ali said the imposition of the ban would adversely affect the tourism industry in the region.

“Seventy per cent of GB people depend on tourism to earn a livelihood as there is no other industry in the region. The tourism industry in the region has already been destroyed after the situation unfolding in South Asia in the wake of 9/11,” he said. “The industry has also been damaged because of operations against terrorists in the north of Pakistan and the Nanga Parbat massacre of 2012,” he said.

Mr Ali said there was no precedent for foreigners to obtain an NOC for visiting tourist points after getting visas.

“Tour operators face difficulties in obtaining visas for foreign tourists. The condition of an NOC would discourage foreigners from visiting GB,” he said.

Mr Ali said that the move would move would also tarnish Pakistan’s image abroad.

Former PATO president Amjad Ayub said it took foreign tourists two or three months to obtain Pakistan’s visa and they were issued visa only after getting NOC from the interior ministry. He warned that further restrictions would deter foreign tourists from visiting Pakistan and ultimately they would cancel their plans to visit the country.

Mr Ayub said that foreign tourists visited the country to enjoy their holidays and they would be irked by such restrictions.

After getting Pakistan’s visa, foreign tourists were not required to get NOC for visiting a particular part of the country, he said and added that restrictions on foreigners’ visit to GB were injustice with the local people.

“Tourists visiting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or Sindh are not required to get NOC, then why for GB,” he asked.

Tourism in the region could not thrive on domestic tourists, Mr Ayub said.

PATO President Irfanullah Baig said the association would take up the issue with the authorities concerned and called upon the federal government to rescind the decision. Courtesy: Dawn

http://pamirtimes.net/2017/04/28/65487/

@WAJsal will we also be considered foreigner under this rule?

 

[bananarepublic]

@WAJsal will we also be considered foreigner under this rule?

well if you have a Pakistani passport no problem

 

[WAJsal]

@WAJsal will we also be considered foreigner under this rule?

You are a Pakistani national. NOC are a security measure, we need to keep future of CPEC in mind and what reactions we might see from India.

 

[Hell hound]

You are a Pakistani national. NOC are a security measure, we need to keep future of CPEC in mind and what reactions we might see from India.

not criticizing the rule here bro i know it is made with good intentions.i just wanted to know does this rule apply to Pakistani with domicile outside the gilgit area.as i went to azad kashmir last summer and had to prove my identity on the border check point but it wasn't a cumbersome process and its just that i wanted it to stay that way.but again my first preference will be safe gilgit

 

[bananarepublic]

Seventy per cent of GB people depend on tourism to earn a livelihood as there is no other industry in the region.

the problem here is this point there is already an employment problem and the government went to make it worse if they are soo worried about cpec why not implement the same policy in kpk or baluchistan.

 

[American Pakistani]

All necessities should be taken care of at the time of VISA issuance. Pointless decision.

 

[KediKesenFare3]

Oh no...

 

[Kabira]

All necessities should be taken care of at the time of VISA issuance. Pointless decision.

True, also why now?

 

[PaklovesTurkiye]

the problem here is this point there is already an employment problem and the government went to make it worse if they are soo worried about cpec why not implement the same policy in kpk or baluchistan.

GB is starting point of CPEC and attached with Indian border as well...Gwadar and GB must have fool proof security

 

[peacefulguy]

You are a Pakistani national. NOC are a security measure, we need to keep future of CPEC in mind and what reactions we might see from India.

Itna mat daro humse. Give other professions except army and militancy also a chance to flourish in pakistan.

 

[krash]

Foreign tourists barred from visiting GB without no-objection certificate

JAMIL NAGRI

GILGIT: The federal interior ministry has imposed a ban on visits of foreign tourists to Gilgit-Baltistan without obtaining a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the ministry in Islamabad.

A letter recently sent by the ministry to the Gilgit-Baltistan government says that it has been reported that foreigners are frequently visiting Gilgit-Baltistan without obtaining an NOC or security clearance from the ministry, which is against the rules.

The letter asks the authorities concerned to take concrete measures to curb the practice.

Reacting to the development, the Pakistan Association of Tour Operators (PATO) has said the move is tantamount to the “economic murder” of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Talking to Dawn, PATO joint secretary Muhammad Ali said the imposition of the ban would adversely affect the tourism industry in the region.

“Seventy per cent of GB people depend on tourism to earn a livelihood as there is no other industry in the region. The tourism industry in the region has already been destroyed after the situation unfolding in South Asia in the wake of 9/11,” he said. “The industry has also been damaged because of operations against terrorists in the north of Pakistan and the Nanga Parbat massacre of 2012,” he said.

Mr Ali said there was no precedent for foreigners to obtain an NOC for visiting tourist points after getting visas.

“Tour operators face difficulties in obtaining visas for foreign tourists. The condition of an NOC would discourage foreigners from visiting GB,” he said.

Mr Ali said that the move would move would also tarnish Pakistan’s image abroad.

Former PATO president Amjad Ayub said it took foreign tourists two or three months to obtain Pakistan’s visa and they were issued visa only after getting NOC from the interior ministry. He warned that further restrictions would deter foreign tourists from visiting Pakistan and ultimately they would cancel their plans to visit the country.

Mr Ayub said that foreign tourists visited the country to enjoy their holidays and they would be irked by such restrictions.

After getting Pakistan’s visa, foreign tourists were not required to get NOC for visiting a particular part of the country, he said and added that restrictions on foreigners’ visit to GB were injustice with the local people.

“Tourists visiting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or Sindh are not required to get NOC, then why for GB,” he asked.

Tourism in the region could not thrive on domestic tourists, Mr Ayub said.

PATO President Irfanullah Baig said the association would take up the issue with the authorities concerned and called upon the federal government to rescind the decision. Courtesy: Dawn

http://pamirtimes.net/2017/04/28/65487/

This is another example of media over-hyping the reality. The NOC requirement was always in place, is not a new requirement at all and is only meant for certain specific militarily sensitive areas within GB. The government has only asked to re-enforce that which has always been the law.

@WAJsal will we also be considered foreigner under this rule?

Why would you be considered a foreigner mate?

Oh no...

Don't worry. The NOC is not a big deal. Most of GB is accessible without it and for the NOC a regular joe would have no problem. Even a regular travel agent can get you one.

All necessities should be taken care of at the time of VISA issuance. Pointless decision.

They are. It has always been the responsibility of the tourist to acquire these NOCs before entering those specific regions. There is nothing pointless about it.

not criticizing the rule here bro i know it is made with good intentions.i just wanted to know does this rule apply to Pakistani with domicile outside the gilgit area.as i went to azad kashmir last summer and had to prove my identity on the border check point but it wasn't a cumbersome process and its just that i wanted it to stay that way.but again my first preference will be safe gilgit

You just have to log your NIC at these checkposts, locals have to do it as well, it's for everyone. All of northern Pakistan is that way due to its sensitive nature (militarily). There is a reason why our neighbour's desperate attempts at creating mischief up north have always failed miserably and they are left with showing doctored videos of rallies against load shedding as rallies against the 'oppression of Pakistan in AJK'.

Itna mat daro humse. Give other professions except army and militancy also a chance to flourish in pakistan.

Lol, this guy....