Qatar offers visa for Pakistanis on arrival

QATAR: Pakistani nationals will now be able to obtain a visa for Qatar on arrival for a period up to 30 days.

According to Qatar Airways website, Pakistanis with a valid passport for a minimum of six months from arrival date will be able to obtain a visa on arrival. Pakistanis would also need a return or onward ticket and can apply for extending their stay beyond 30 days. For a stay longer than 30 days a residence permit would be required, it added.

Earlier Qatar announced a visa-free entry programme for 80 nationalities to stimulate air transport and tourism. Interior ministry official Mohamed Rashed al Mazroui had said the nationals of 80 countries would only need to present a valid passport for entry to the energy-rich Gulf state which is to host football’s 2022 World Cup.

Nationals of 33 countries will be authorised to stay for 180 days and the other 47 for up to 30 days periods which are renewable a single time. The move came after Saudi Arabia as well as Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt have since June 5 imposed a boycott on Qatar accusing the emirate of fostering extremist groups and of close ties to Iran. —Sabah