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13 Dec, 2012

India Sets Visa Rules for Pakistan Cricket Fans

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Ministry of Home Affairs, 11-December, 2012 — Central Government has granted permission for hosting the India-Pakistan Cricket series involving 3 One day internationals and 2 Twenty-20 matches from 25th December, 2012 to 6th January, 2013 in India. It has been decided that Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) would send 50 VIP tickets per venue to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the four venues (other than Delhi) and for Delhi, they would send 100 VIP tickets to PCB.

Further, 500 spectator tickets per venue would be sent by BCCI to PCB for the four venues (other than Delhi) and for Delhi, 1000 spectator tickets would be sent to PCB. It has also been decided that in respect of all those Pakistani nationals who would be visiting India for seeing the matches with the sponsorship from an Indian national, the existing visa procedure will apply. However, in respect of those Pakistani spectators who would be visiting India without the sponsorship from an Indian national, the following modalities will be adopted:-

(i) Visa would be granted to such Pakistani spectators only on production of ticket for the matches (no limit on number of matches), hotel booking, return ticket by air, train or bus and a photocopy of the National Identity Card issued by the Government of Pakistan.

(ii) The visa for the spectators would be issued for the specific places as per the tickets issued to them and for the specific period plus journey time. The visa would be non-extendable and visit of additional place would not be granted.

(iii) BCCI would suggest to PCB the list of hotels along with tariff at each venue where the Pakistani spectators can be accommodated.

(iv) All such visas would be with Police Reporting and arrangements will be made by the Special Brach of the Police in respective cities by setting up of special counters for Police Reporting at the designated hotels identified by BCCI where the Pakistani spectators will be staying.

(v) The Pakistani spectators would be allowed entry and exit only through Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai (by air), Attari (by train) and Attari (by bus) and the mode of travel and the point of entry/ exit would be clearly indicated in the Visa application form and would be endorsed on the Visa sticker. No change in the point of entry/ exit or mode of travel would be allowed. No permission would be given for crossing on foot through Attari and by train (Munnabao).

This was stated by Shri Mullappally Ramachandran, Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs in written reply to a question by Shri Adhalrao Patil Shivaji, Shri Gajanan D.Babar, Shri Dharmendra Yadav and Sh.Anandrao Adsul in the Lok Sabha today.