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This initiative rules out cumbersome visa requirements like approaching Pakistani consulates or registering with the police. Instead, persons of Indian origin will be able to apply online and get a visa in seven working days like other preferred foreign nationals.
"The decision is based purely on economic considerations," a senior Ministry of Interior official, who did not wish to be named, told Khaleej Times.
"Invariably the top management and decision-makers of leading international IT companies, like Motorolla and Google, turn out to be second- or third-generation non-resident Indians."
Prime Minister Imran Khan's economic revival plan envisages engagement with top multi-nationals for advisory as well as investment linkages. And the prospect of vigorous visa processes, whenever persons of Indian origin were involved, threatened to make the exercise inefficient.
"There was a clear bias in our visa policy when Indians are concerned, but at the end of the day it would have been counter-productive for us," the official added.
Currently, the visa form has two boxes: current nationality and country of origin, and the Ministry of Interior believes that if the former is neutral, the latter is not a problem even if it is marked India.
"Even our embassies have reported that second- or third-generation foreign nationals are working professionals in their fields and not politically motivated; hence there is no security threat."
The ministry's proposal was accept by Imran Khan at one of his recent cabinet meetings and will be implemented in the coming weeks.
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