E-visa verification system installed at Torkham zero-point

By Ashrafuddin Pirzada
October 24, 2023
Afghan nationals travelling with their families secure their belongings on a vehicle in the Jamrud area of Khyber district on October 6, 2023, as they return to Afghanistan. — AFP
Afghan nationals travelling with their families secure their belongings on a vehicle in the Jamrud area of Khyber district on October 6, 2023, as they return to Afghanistan. — AFP

LANDIKOTAL: In a bid to prevent illegal movement to and from Afghanistan, Pakistan’s Immigration department has relocated the electronic visa verification system from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) offices to the Torkham zero point, officials said on Monday.

Speaking to journalists, FIA Assistant Director Yasar Arafat stated that the primary goal of the electronic visa verification system was to deter illegal border crossings into Pakistan. He said that they have made every effort to provide the best possible services to travellers at the Torkham offices.

Arafat said the electronic visa service would significantly reduce the prevalence of fake visas. The system is expected to expedite the processing of travellers with genuine documents, reducing wait times at Torkham for those traveling to Pakistan.

Arafat revealed that approximately 3,000 to 5,000 passengers crossed the border daily. To manage the rush and minimise delays, extra FIA staff has been deployed, and several counters have been set up. These measures are aimed at expediting the repatriation of Afghan citizens, with over 60,000 Afghan nationals voluntarily returning to Afghanistan in recent weeks.Pakistan has set a deadline for illegal Afghan nationals to leave the country by October 30.