Chinese citizens working on various projects in Pakistan will now get new visas for a minimum duration of two years with the permits being handed over within only 48 hours from the time of application, a senior minister said in Islamabad. Pakistan Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed announced the new visa policy approved by the federal cabinet for the Chinese workers.

Rasheed said the visa facilities were being made exclusively for the Chinese citizens working on various projects including the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.

“A separate visa category has been created for Chinese citizens under the CPEC. Special desks are being set up at airports to facilitate the Chinese citizens,” said the minister.

Rasheed briefed the Chinese Ambassador to Nong Rong about the new features of the visa regime during a meeting at the interior ministry, Pakistan Today reported.

He said Pakistan missions have been instructed to process and issue the visas to the Chinese citizens within 48 hours.

Rashid and the Chinese envoy also discussed bilateral cooperation between the two countries and issues of mutual interest.

Expressing happiness over the completion of 70 years of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China, Ambassador Rong said his country is to Islamabad for facilitating visas for Chinese citizens.

He said the visa facilitation will further enhance trust and expansion in relations between the two countries.

Rong said the CPEC-related projects will create new investment and employment opportunities in Pakistan.

During the meeting, Rasheed urged the Chinese government to make arrangements for the return of Pakistani students enrolled in various Chinese universities who are now stranded in Pakistan.

He said the Pakistani students risk losing their precious academic years due to the measures taken in wake of the pandemic.

The Ambassador assured Rashid that his embassy will make utmost efforts for the return of Pakistani students to China quickly.

CPEC is a collection of infrastructure projects that are under construction throughout Pakistan since 2013. Originally valued at USD 47 billion, the projects were estimated to be worth USD 62 billion as of 2020.

(SAM)