Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood briefed the Diplomatic Corps in Islamabad on arrangements made by the Government of Pakistan to facilitate the evacuation of members of the international community including diplomats and staff, representatives of international organizations, INGOs, the media, and others from Afghanistan.

The members of the Diplomatic Corps were informed that all requests for evacuation/relocation may be directed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which will be processed expeditiously.

In addition to providing necessary assistance to Pakistanis in Afghanistan, the Embassy of Pakistan in Kabul was working to extend requisite consular services for such facilitation. The Pakistan Embassy in Kabul continued to issue visas on a fast-track basis. Given the evolving situation, procedures had also been put in place to grant visas-on-arrival at Pakistan’s international airports.

A 24/7 special Inter-Ministerial Cell/Facilitation Centre has been established in the Ministry of Interior to facilitate visa and arrival matters. The following telephone numbers of the Facilitation Centre have been shared with the Diplomatic Corps for coordination pertaining to the evacuation process: