Special counter inaugurated at Islamabad airport to provide quick immigration service to Chinese nationals

Gwadar Pro

Islamabad: Pakistan has introduced a special immigration counter for the Chinese nationals at the Islamabad International Airport (IIA) to grant them fastest immigration facility.

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed inaugurated the special immigration counter for Chinese nationals at the IIA.

Speaking to the journalists after the inauguration, he said, the counter would provide the exclusive and fastest immigration facilities to the nationals of the Iron Brother China.

“CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor) visa holders would also take benefit from the special counter. A separate category visa for CPEC is being issued by the interior ministry,” he added.

The special counter has been inaugurated days after the incident near the Dasu project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on July 14, in which nine Chinese nationals and four Pakistanis lost their lives.

A bus carrying Pakistan and Chinese workers to the site of the Dasu project fell into a ravine after a blast. The Pakistan-China joint investigation team has since found evidence of terrorism.

The Dasu hydroelectric project is part of the CPEC, a US $65 billion investment plan under Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative that is aimed at connecting western China to the Gwadar seaport in southern Pakistan.

In May, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed had announced a new visa policy for Chinese nationals working in the CPEC projects, adding that they will be granted a work visa for a minimum time period of two years.

The minister explained that Chinese citizens would now be issued two-year work visas within 48 hours from the respective missions, adding that a separate visa category has been created for Chinese citizens related to CPEC projects.

He said the government had ensured that special desks are set up to facilitate Chinese citizens at the Pakistani airports.