In a major diplomatic move, the visa-related problems faced by residents of Pakistan travelling to Sri Lanka have come to an end.
During an interaction with Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Interior Minister of Pakistan and Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi drew the attention of the Sri Lankan President to the concerns and challenges faced by Pakistani citizens.
Taking immediate notice, the Sri Lankan President ordered that Pakistan should be removed from all restrictive lists.
He also declared that Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister would soon go on an official visit to Pakistan for the strengthening of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Promoting Bilateral Cooperation
The meeting held detailed discussions on counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics cooperation and joint training programs between security forces of both countries.
Mohsin Naqvi appreciated the efforts of Sri Lankan leadership in ensuring better Pakistan-Sri Lanka ties.
He also conveyed the formal invitation of the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the President of Sri Lanka to visit Pakistan.
In addition, Naqvi expressed gratitude to Sri Lanka’s arrangements for hosting the T20 World Cup of the International Cricket Council and hosting the Pakistani delegation.
The Sri Lankan President reiterated his intention to enhance bilateral ties and thanked Pakistan for showing spirit of goodwill especially the recent match against India.
GCC’s Unified Tourist Visa Plan
In other news, the Gulf Cooperation Council is moving towards inaugurating a Unified Tourist Visa with a view to revolutionise travel in the region.
The proposed visa would enable international travellers to visit six Gulf countries – Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman – with one permit.
Officials say the initiative is a big step in promoting deeper regional cooperation and boosts tourism.
However, its launch, which is now anticipated in 2026, has delayed because of technical challenges in tying immigration systems, biometric databases and security protocols in the six nations together.
Also read: Pakistanis can now travel to six countries on one visa
