NEW DELHI: Pakistani businessmen with assured financial standing will be granted a multiple-entry business visa with up to 3 years’ validity, which will allow them to visit 15 places in India.

Minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju said instructions were issued by the government on July 7 regarding grant of multiple-entry business visa for a period of up to 3 years to a special category of Pakistani businessmen of assured standing and credentials.

Rijiju said business visa can be granted for a period of up to five years or for a shorter duration as per the requirement to the nationals of SAARC countries except in case of nationals of Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan. While citizens of Nepal and Bhutan do not require any visa to enter India, certain category of Pakistani nationals are presently eligible for grant of multiple-entry business visa for a maximum period of one year and restricted to 10 places.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had, during the SAARC summit in Kathmandu last year, announced business visas with 3-5 years’ validity for citizens of all SAARC member-states. The step was aimed at boosting regional trade across South Asia.

Rijiju, answering another query on whether e-tourist visa facility was proposed to be extended to all SAARC countries, said only Sri Lanka was covered under the scheme as of now. “The inclusion of additional countries in the e-tourist visa scheme is a continuous process which is done after consultation with all stakeholders,” he stated.

