Pakistan recently launched a new online visa system offering quicker and easier visa services for citizens from China, the UK, Turkey, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates. The new visa system, which went into effect on March 14, has been praised by Pakistan ambassador to China, Masood Khalid, who noted that more Chinese tourists and investment are expected to enter Pakistan in the future.

(Photo courtesy of Embassy of Pakistan in China)

During the launch ceremony held in the Pakistani Embassy in Beijing, Khalid told the media that China had been selected as one of the five countries to test the system, hoping that Chinese citizens would become the first to utilize the visa system in the initial phase.

“In 2018, 55,000 Chinese people obtained their visa to Pakistan from the Pakistan Embassy and its four consulates in China. I have confidence that the number of Chinese tourists will further grow in the months to come,” said the ambassador.

According to the ambassador, the increasing number of tourists from China was a manifestation of the fact that the relations between Pakistan and China were growing at a fast pace and the Chinese people wanted to explore Pakistani markets and its tourist spots.

“In the past six months, the Pakistani government has taken a number of steps to encourage investment and tourism in the country, [I believe] the new visa system will further attract investment and tourists worldwide,” noted the ambassador.

In addition to the new online visa system, citizens in 186 countries can now obtain a three-month visa to Pakistan, the ambassador added.