Pakistan announces visa on arrival for Saudi citizens

Islamabad - The conditions for visa and fees for the citizens have also been abolished.

Pakistan's Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain on March 29, said that Pakistan would support Saudi Arabia in promoting of culture and has already offered services of Pakistani artists, calligraphers, actors and film directors for enhancing its cultural activities.
Fawad also said the condition for visa and fees for Saudi citizens has been abolished and now they could get visa at the airport and that this would help promote tourism in Pakistan.
Tourism from Arab countries would be important in boosting the economy of Pakistan, he said, adding that the Pakistani embassy in Riyadh was performing its role and would implement the visa policy which would bring more Saudi citizens to Pakistan, increasing people-to-people contacts.  He said that Pakistan had established contacts with the Arab world, right after independence and Saudi Arabia was among those few countries which recognized Pakistan immediately and the ties were established in 1951. 
The ties became strong during the period of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and now Imran Khan has taken the relations further, he added.  The minister said that it was in 1971, that Pakistan was the third biggest film maker in the world, however unfortunately in 2005 not a single film was made, adding, "Now we are reviving the cinema and presently we have 187 film screens but these are not enough."
Talking to media, he said that Pakistan would collaborate with the new Culture Ministry of Saudi Arabia and assist it in fostering cultural activities. He also said that Pakistan had a 5000-year old cultural evolution and its institutions of culture were vibrant, the performing arts academies were strong and Pakistan could support Saudi Arabia in this field.
Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited Pakistan and that his words spoken for Pakistan, were unprecedented. The Crown Prince said he was ambassador of Pakistan in Saudi Arabia which showed the strength of relationship between the leadership of the two countries.
The minister added that the exchange of dramas with Arabic and Urdu dubbing, will take place between the two countries. The Saudi minister had promised to take up the matter of availability of Pakistani dramas and entertainment on the flights of Saudi Airlines.
Few films were being made in Pakistan, however, Saudi Arabia and China had agreed to allow screening of Pakistani movies in their cinemas."
He said Saudi Culture minister wanted cooperation of Pakistani cinema owners in setting up cinema halls in Riyadh and Jeddah and that the quality of Pakistani dramas was good and quality of films had also improved and some of them had done good business.
Fawad appreciated the two million strong Pakistani community in Saudi Arabia for its enormous contribution towards the economy of Pakistan as they send home one fourth of the total remittances.

• Saudi Arabia
• Pakistan