MANAMA: The condition of visa or POC for Bahraini nationals holding NICOP has been withdrawn with immediate effect by the Ministry of Interior Government of Pakistan on Wednesday.
The letter titled ‘impose on travelling ban on Bahraini nationals holing NICOP’ dated January 12th was in fact a communication between the Pakistan Embassy in Manama and the Government of Pakistan, Maqsood Qadir Shah, Community Welfare Attaché at Pakistan Embassy in Manama told The24X7News (www.twentyfoursevennews.com).
There are thousands of Pakistani naturalized Bahrainis living in Bahrain who travel to Pakistan with National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP). Such travelers in circular were actually asked to apply for Pakistan Origin Card (POC) or travel by securing pre travel visa from Pakistan Embassy.
The aforesaid circular, according to the Pakistan embassy, was not meant for Bahrain Immigration or airlines operating from Bahrain.
“I wonder how this communication has circulated among the various airlines offices in Bahrain while the embassy had never sent the same to such offices,” Maqsood Qadir Shah, added.
Now for the time being, Mr Shah said, the letter has been withdrawn by the Ministry of Interior Government of Pakistan on Wednesday and the same intimation has been sent to all the entry points across Pakistan.
Explaining the rationale behind the withdrawal of the letter, Mr Shah said that the issuance of POC to replace NICOP for NADRA in short span of time is not possible. “This is a huge exercise for NADRA and unless such access to Bahraini nationals holding NICOP is not extended the earlier letter has been withdrawn and notified to all airports and points on entries across Pakistan,” he said.
The Ambassador Jauhar Saleem said that he had already issued instructions to take necessary measures if the POC and Visa conditions were causing inconvenience to Bahraini nationals holding NICOP.
As a matter of principle, the Ambassador said, the communication with the Government of Pakistan over the same issue was in line with the laws. However, Mr Jauhar said, we don’t want any problems for Bahraini nationals holding valid NICOP cards.