SAARC officials discuss visa exemption schemes

Immigration officials from SAARC countries here today discussed various issues related to improving immigration procedures among member states including a visa exemption scheme.
During the meeting the participating officials mainly discussed issues relating to the SAARC visa exemption scheme and immigration liaison network.
Under this, the immigration officials of member countries discussed ways to improve SAARC visa facilitation and the visa exemption sticker scheme, according to Sudarshan Dhakal, director general of Immigration Department of Nepal.
The meet was held ahead of the 6th SAARC Home Ministers' Meeting on Friday, and the SAARC Home Secretaries' Meeting which will take place tomorrow.

The visa exemption scheme was proposed during the 17th SAARC summit held in the Maldives in 2013.
Under this, the SAARC immigration officials are considering to provide visa exemption to ordinary citizens of the member countries including businessmen, sports persons and journalists while visiting each other's countries.

As per the existing rule, only imminent persons including government officials are provided visa exemption among SAARC member states.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to arrive in Kathmandu tomorrow to take part in the SAARC Home Ministers' Meeting.
Issues relating to combating terrorism, controlling narcotic drugs trade, human trafficking, checking cyber crime and eliminating corruption will come up during the SAARC Home Ministers' and Home Secretaries' Meetings, according to Laxmi Prasad Dhakal, spokesperson at Nepal's Home Ministry.