Pak bars foreign tourists from visiting Gilgit-Baltistan without NOC

The Pakistan Government has barred foreign tourists from visiting the disputed region of Gilgit-Baltistan without obtaining the no-objection certificate from the Ministry of Interior.

According to the ARY news, it is reported that the Interior Ministry had imposed a ban on visits of foreign tourists who don't carry NOC with them at the time of visit.

The Gilgit-Baltistan government recently received a letter from the ministry saying that foreigners were frequently visiting Gilgit-Baltistan without obtaining an NOC or security clearance from the ministry, which is against the rules.

The letter asks the authorities concerned to take concrete measures to curb the practice.

The Pakistan Association of Tour Operators (PATO) has opposed the government move and said the order was tantamount to the "economic murder" of GB.

Gilgit-Baltistan is a disputed area in Pakistan's northernmost administrative territory that borders the disputed Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Recently, Pakistan has announced its intention to declare the region as its fifth province.

However, India flatly rejected this move claiming that Gilgit-Baltistan is an integral part of its territory.