Political sparks in Assam on 9 February drew attention to a lesser-known mobility risk: Pakistan’s city-specific tourist visas. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma questioned Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi’s visit to Taxila, arguing that Gogoi’s visa reportedly authorised only Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad. Without additional clearance, travel to Rawalpindi—where Taxila is located—could breach Pakistani immigration rules.(malaysiasun.com)
The episode underscores the importance of reading the fine print on destination-restricted visas issued by several South-Asian nations, Pakistan included. Mobility advisers note that executives attending multi-city meetings often assume freedom of movement once inside the country, risking fines or, in extreme cases, detention.
For travel managers the practical takeaway is to verify that itineraries align with approved cities on Pakistani visas and to budget extra lead time—up to ten working days—for add-on endorsements. Organisations should include city-restriction clauses in pre-trip briefings and emergency-contact cards.
![Visa-Clearance Row Highlights City-Specific Restrictions on Pakistani Visas]()
Travelers seeking clarity on such city-specific permissions can turn to visa facilitation platforms like VisaHQ, which provides up-to-date guidance on Pakistani and other South-Asian visa rules, helps secure the correct city endorsements, and tracks processing times in real time. Its India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) allows corporate travel desks and individual applicants alike to submit documents online and receive expert support, reducing the chances of itinerary-visa mismatches.
From a policymaking standpoint, Indian officials have long urged Islamabad to relax the practice, citing impediments to pilgrim and business travel. The latest public spat may add pressure ahead of bilateral Track-II talks scheduled for April.
While the incident is domestic political fodder, it offers a teachable moment for compliance teams overseeing cross-border visits in sensitive regions.
The episode underscores the importance of reading the fine print on destination-restricted visas issued by several South-Asian nations, Pakistan included. Mobility advisers note that executives attending multi-city meetings often assume freedom of movement once inside the country, risking fines or, in extreme cases, detention.
For travel managers the practical takeaway is to verify that itineraries align with approved cities on Pakistani visas and to budget extra lead time—up to ten working days—for add-on endorsements. Organisations should include city-restriction clauses in pre-trip briefings and emergency-contact cards.
Travelers seeking clarity on such city-specific permissions can turn to visa facilitation platforms like VisaHQ, which provides up-to-date guidance on Pakistani and other South-Asian visa rules, helps secure the correct city endorsements, and tracks processing times in real time. Its India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) allows corporate travel desks and individual applicants alike to submit documents online and receive expert support, reducing the chances of itinerary-visa mismatches.
From a policymaking standpoint, Indian officials have long urged Islamabad to relax the practice, citing impediments to pilgrim and business travel. The latest public spat may add pressure ahead of bilateral Track-II talks scheduled for April.
While the incident is domestic political fodder, it offers a teachable moment for compliance teams overseeing cross-border visits in sensitive regions.
