The federal government is set to introduce a special visa program designed to promote foreign investment in the country, Interior Ministry sources confirmed Thursday. The initiative is a significant step aimed at improving the ease of doing business for international financiers.
According to media reports, the new policy will facilitate overseas entrepreneurs by offering multiple-entry business visas to individuals intending to invest or establish commercial operations in Pakistan. This framework is expected to allow for smoother conduct of business activities.
The new scheme will also be extended to Afghan nationals. The policy will permit Afghans who are already engaged in commercial activities within Pakistan to legally obtain business visas under the updated regulations.
In a related development, Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb met with his Saudi counterpart, Mohammed Abdullah Al-Jadaan, in the United States to explore investment and privatization opportunities.
Discussions during the meeting centered on enhancing ongoing economic cooperation, with a particular focus on potential Saudi capital in Pakistan’s privatization plans. The projects for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and national airports were highlighted as key areas for foreign participation.
Minister Aurangzeb emphasized the government’s strategy to encourage private sector involvement, underscoring the vital roles of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) in facilitating investment and providing financial guarantees.
Pakistan also conveyed its desire for Saudi financial assistance in developing national infrastructure projects. The Saudi finance minister responded positively, reaffirming his country’s commitment to strengthening economic collaboration.
Aurangzeb assured his counterpart that Pakistan remains dedicated to its reform agenda under the current IMF program and is implementing tangible measures to secure sustainable economic stability. Both officials agreed that the partnership between the two nations is a strategic economic relationship with immense potential for future growth.