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COVID-19: Pakistan grants two-month visa extension to all foreigners

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has decided to grant a two-month extension in visas to all foreigners, in the wake of lockdown situation that has forced the authorities to suspend international flights.

According to an official in the interior ministry, all the foreigners in the country are now allowed to extend their stay till June 30.

“The decision was made keeping the coronavirus situation in view,” the official said.

Earlier: Saudi Arabia accepts Pakistan’s request to extend visas of workers

Following a request by the government, Saudi Arabian ministry today announced an extension in visas of Pakistanis working in the kingdom, in light of travel restrictions imposed due to the new coronavirus pandemic.

“The Saudi Arabia government is extending entry and exit visas of Pakistanis working in KSA,” said an official of the ministry. “The extension would be free of charge, in order to provide relief to the labour stranded in the country due to COVID-19 outbreak.”

The official further added that the Saudi government will take care of Pakistanis who have been fired from their jobs, and ensure timely payments to them.

Earlier: Saudi Arabia releases Pakistani prisoners

According to the details provided to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Saudi Arabia had released under royal clemency five hundred and seventy-nine Pakistani prisoners.

Dr. Amir Sheikh MD of the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation said that the representatives from relevant offices in Pakistan were in touch with the Saudi government over the release of prisoners.

It is pertinent to mention here that Imran Khan had requested the Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman to show leniency towards the prisoners languishing in the Saudi prisons.

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M M Alam

M. M. Alam is a Pakistan-based working journalist since 1981. Karachi University faculty gold medalist Alam began his career four decades ago by writing for Dawn, Pakistan’s highest circulating English daily. He has worked for region’s leading publications, global aviation periodicals including Rotors (of USA) and vetted New York Times as permanent employee of daily Express Tribune. Alam regularly covers international aviation and defense-related events including Salon Du Bourget (France), Farnborough (United Kingdom), Dubai (UAE). Alam has reported thousands of events and interviewed hundreds of people in Pakistan, UAE, EU, UK and USA. Being Francophone Alam also coordinates with a number of French publications.