Cabinet approves new visa policy for Pak refugees

The Union Cabinet  on Wednesday approved a new liberalised visa policy for foreigners. In another significant move, it also approved a Rs 2,000 crore development package for settlement of 36,384 families of refugees from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. They are largely living in Jammu, Kathua and Rajouri districts of Jammu and Kashmir. Since they aren’t treated as permanent residents of the State, they have been facing issues of livelihood since their migration in 1947, and others during the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pak.

The new liberalised visa policy is slated to help tourists, businessmen, patients, people attending conferences and even film shoot crews. Under the policy, traders will be given a long-term, multiple-entry visa up to 10 years though they will not be allowed to work or stay permanently. Others will be offered a five-year multiple visa. However, visitors have to give biometric details and fulfill certain security obligations, said an official. The plan is part of the Commerce Ministry’s initiative to boost India’s services trade. The move will help attack $80 billion annually in terms of attracting foreigners and foreign exchange. Medical tourism is also estimated to grow at $7-8 billion by 2020.

Official sources said the move will stimulate economic growth, increase earnings from export of services like tourism, medical value travel and travel on account of business.