FM expresses satisfaction on success of e-visa regime

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mehmood Qureshi has expressed satisfaction on the success of new visa regime and getting desired results. In a statement, he said people are utilizing the e-visa service for business, tourism and education purposes. He said e-visa policy will prove to be a milestone for promotion of tourism and strengthening of economy. Shah Mehmood Qureshi expressed hope that new e-visa policy will also stimulate economic diplomacy. According to NADRA records, 9931 e-visa applications have been received so far, of which 7160 persons were granted visa immediately. Meanwhile, 2246 applications are under consideration while 325 have been rejected on technical grounds. Earlier, Shah Mahmood Qureshi wrote a letter to the new Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and congratulated him on assuming the charge of his office. Qureshi also told Jaishankar that Islamabad wants talks with New Delhi on all important matters and remains committed to efforts for establishing peace in the region. “Progress is possible only through peace and stability in the region. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had named Jaishankar as India’s external affairs minister on May 31 as part of a major cabinet shakeup for his second term in office. He was the top foreign ministry official until his retirement last year. Jaishankar was also an influential adviser to Modi on diplomacy during his first five years in power. He took over from Sushma Swaraj, the ruling party’s veteran leader and the previous most senior woman in the cabinet. Swaraj underwent a kidney transplant in 2016 and has been beset by poor health. Modi’s 24 cabinet rank ministers and more than 30 deputy ministers were sworn in at the presidential palace on May 30. Presidents and prime ministers from neighbouring Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and the Maldives were present, but Pakistan was not invited to the swearing-in ceremony.