Pakistan Origin Card to be re-launched as Temporary Residence Card: Nisar

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Saturday announced that the government has decided to re-launch Pakistan Origin Card with a new name as Temporary Residence Card.

“This card was basically given to foreigner women who were married in Pakistan, as the card was being misused, the interior ministry banned it about one and a half year ago. After the move, we received numerous complaints that some rightful claimants of the card are facing difficulties, so we are re-launching it as temporary residence card,” Nisar told a news conference.

About the procedure to get the card, he said if any foreigner women marries a Pakistani national then initially she will be issued visa for one year that will be extendable up to five years subject to security clearance, adding that only after five years, the foreigner will qualify for Temporary Residence Card.

Nisar made it clear that no un-documented person will be allowed to live in Pakistan.

The Interior Minister said that International NGOs will be permitted to carry on their work in Pakistan according to the defined code of conduct only.

ABOUT DAWN LEAKS

Answering a question about the inquiry related to a controversial story published in Daily Dawn, Nisar said that interior ministry will receive the inquiry report within two or three days.

“The report I have is that a consensus is achieved and the report will be presented in interior ministry in two or three days and I will make the recommendations public,” said Nisar.

The federal government had formed an inquiry committee in November to probe a ‘planted news story’ about a high-level huddle on national security in the newspaper in October.

Replying to a question about Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhev, Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan said he was involved in espionage and is a naval officer, so the Indian request for counselor access was denied.