Islamabad: Federal Minister for Interior Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Wednesday (November 25) inaugurated the upgraded Pakistan Online Visa System (POVS), according to news sources.
As per the details, the upgrade made the system more user-friendly and compatible with all the devices. Already, Pakistan has received more than 6,000 applications from 180 countries via the online visa system. NADRA Chairman Tariq Malik, while speaking at the occasion, hoped that the upgraded POVS will facilitate applicants by decreasing the application filling time by half. He went on to say that international travel has experienced a huge increase and visa approval rates have reached 94%.
Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid also addressed the ceremony held at the National Database and Registration Authority’s (NADRA) headquarters and stated that online application was boosting the tourism sector in Pakistan and it is an essential medium to build a positive image of the country. He added that the ease of access to Pakistan through the said system has improved Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and promoted economic activity in the country.
Sharing details about the POVS, it was disclosed that new categories were also incorporated including CPEC visa, medical tourism, and mountaineering & trekking visa. The business visa policy has also been updated with visa acquisition possible within 24 hours. It is pertinent to mention that the previous POVS was launched in March 2019 with a complicated process and no access through tablets and smartphones.
Iqra holds BS in International Relations and is passionate about writing engaging content on trending real estate topics. When not working, she is either spending time with family, shopping, or discussing shows & movies.
