Qatar has introduced a visa-on-arrival facility for Pakistani passport holders, days after it introduced a visa-free entry scheme for 80 nationalities.
According to information available on Qatar Airways’ official website, Pakistani nationals with a return/onward ticket can obtain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 30 days.
For a Pakistani national to be eligible for visa on arrival, his or her passport should be valid for a minimum of six months from the arrival date. Regional kingpin 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 Islamist extremist groups and of close ties to Iran. Doha has denied the allegations.
The four Gulf nations have closed their land and sea borders to Qatar and imposed economic and air traffic restrictions.
Qatar has a population of 2.4 million people, 90 per cent of whom are foreigners, including many from south Asia working in construction.
