ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday announced visa-free entry into Pakistan for businessmen from Gulf nations, amid a push for trade and investment in the South Asian country.
Pakistan has faced a prolonged economic crisis that led the country to seek financial assistance from friendly nations and global lenders like the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Islamabad and the IMF this month agreed on a $7 billion loan deal to strengthen macroeconomic gains made over the last year, during which Pakistan bolstered its forex reserves and brought down inflation from 38 percent to a little over 12 percent.
In a statement issued from his office, Sharif said the government was making it easy and convenient for foreign investors, business community and tourists to obtain Pakistani visas.
“Visa-free entry into Pakistan for businessmen from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries has been approved, due to which investment and business opportunities in Pakistan from the Gulf countries will increase further,” he said in a statement.
In recent months, Sharif’s government has actively pursued economic diplomacy in the region by seeking more investment and enhancing trade and regional connectivity. This week, it announced free visas for 126 countries.
“With the decision to relax the visa policy, Pakistan will become an attractive destination for foreign nationals in terms of business and tourism,” the prime minister said further.
“A separate sub-category has also been approved for visa-on-arrival facility for Sikh pilgrims holding passports of third countries.”
Sharif noted that Pakistan had sacred places of many religions, and Gilgit-Baltistan and other northern areas of the country were a major attraction for tourists from all over the world.
He said a “dashboard” would be established in the Ministry of Interior for the implementation of the new visa regime, which would monitor visa-free entry, business visa list and tourist visas on arrival.
Pakistan announces visa-free entry for businessmen from Gulf countries
https://arab.news/5nuxm
Pakistan announces visa-free entry for businessmen from Gulf countries
- PM Shehbaz Sharif says move will further increase investment, business opportunities in Pakistan from Gulf nations
- In a similar bid this week, the Pakistani government approved free visas for 126 countries worldwide to boost tourism
Pakistan disburses record $9.2 billion agricultural loans in FY25, central bank says
- State Bank says farm lending rose 16 percent year-on-year to Rs2.58 trillion
- Inflation eased to 5.8 percent in January as GDP growth hits 3.7 percent in Q1 FY26
KARACHI: Pakistan disbursed a record Rs2.58 trillion ($9.2 billion) in agricultural loans during fiscal year 2024–25, a 16 percent increase from the previous year, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Jameel Ahmad said on Thursday while chairing a meeting of the Agricultural Credit Advisory Committee (ACAC).
Agricultural financing is considered critical to Pakistan’s rural economy, where farming contributes nearly one-fifth of GDP and employs a large share of the workforce. The government has repeatedly emphasized expanding credit access to small farmers as part of broader efforts to boost productivity, stabilize food supply and support economic recovery under an IMF-backed reform program.
According to official data shared at the meeting, agricultural credit disbursement reached Rs2.58 trillion in FY25, marking a record high. In the first half of FY26 alone, banks disbursed Rs1,412 billion in agricultural loans, while the number of borrowers increased to 2.97 million.
“During fiscal year 2025, record agricultural loans of Rs2.58 trillion were disbursed, reflecting an annual growth of 16 percent,” the State Bank governor said, according to a statement issued after the meeting.
He added that Pakistan had regained macroeconomic stability and that the economy was moving toward sustainable growth.
The governor said GDP growth in the first quarter of FY26 stood at 3.7 percent, while full-year growth was projected between 3.75 percent and 4.75 percent.
He also noted that headline inflation had declined to 5.8 percent in January 2026.
The committee reviewed measures to further expand credit access, including greater use of the central bank’s Zarkhez-e scheme to facilitate agricultural lending. Members also discussed promoting electronic warehouse receipt financing to enhance post-harvest liquidity and reduce distress sales of crops.
The statement said the purpose of electronic warehouse receipt financing was to “reduce forced sales of crops and strengthen linkages within the agricultural market.”
Agricultural lending has been a focus of Pakistan’s financial inclusion strategy, particularly as policymakers seek to improve rural incomes, stabilize food prices and strengthen export-oriented crop production amid broader economic reforms.
