ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Sudan have signed an agreement allowing visa-free travel for holders of official and diplomatic passports, a step the two countries say will strengthen their bilateral ties.
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Sudanese Interior Minister Lieutenant General Babiker Samra Mustafa Ali signed the agreement in Islamabad. Under the agreement, holders of diplomatic and official passports of both countries will be allowed visa-free entry into each other’s territory. The facility applies only to officials and diplomats travelling on such passports. It does not extend to holders of ordinary passports.
Speaking on the occasion, Mohsin Naqvi described the agreement as an important milestone in bilateral relations between Pakistan and Sudan. He said the visa-free facility would further facilitate high-level contacts between the two countries. The agreement covers both diplomatic and official passports. Holders of either category from Pakistan and Sudan will be able to enter the other country without first applying for a visa. This removes a step that often takes time before an official trip.
Officials and diplomats often travel at short notice to attend meetings, negotiations and official engagements. Removing the visa requirement for them is expected to make such travel simpler and quicker. It is also meant to reduce the paperwork that normally comes with official visits. The Sudanese Interior Minister also welcomed the agreement. He said it would further promote friendly relations and institutional cooperation between Pakistan and Sudan.
The signing took place at the level of the two interior ministers, who oversee matters such as immigration and travel documents in their respective countries. Their presence at the ceremony reflected the importance both sides attached to the arrangement. Visa waivers for diplomatic and official passport holders are a common feature of agreements between friendly states. They do not change the rules for ordinary travellers. However, they are widely seen as a sign of trust and a way of keeping official channels open.
For Pakistan and Sudan, the agreement adds a practical layer to relations that both sides describe as friendly. Easier movement for officials can help ministries, institutions and delegations meet more often and follow up on matters of common interest. Both ministers linked the arrangement to closer cooperation between the two countries. The visa-free facility will apply to holders of valid diplomatic and official passports of either country.
