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For business information, annual reports, laws, ordinances, regulations and articles. |
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CHAPTER
XVII
TRAVEL
1. General.
This chapter sets out the rules in accordance with which the Airlines/Shipping
Companies/Travel Agents may sell tickets and Authorised Dealers may release foreign
exchange for travel abroad.
2. Persons from whom applications will be received by the State Bank.
In cases where booking of passage and release of foreign exchange require State
Bank's prior approval, State Bank will entertain applications for approval of passage on
Form or V-62 and V->63 and for release of foreign exchange on Form T-1Appendix V-64)
from the following only:
(i) Applicants themselves.
(ii) Authorised representatives of Airlines/Shipping Companies.
(iii) Authorised representatives of such travel agencies/general sales agents licensed by
the Government under the Travel Agencies Act, 1976 and Overseas Employment Promoters
licensed by the Bureau of Emigration, which are recognized by the State Bank for the
purpose.
(iv) Authorised representatives of the Authorised Dealers.
3. Applications for grant of State Bank’s recognition.
Applications for grant of recognition for the purpose of para 2 (iii) above
should be made to the State Bank through the bankers of the applicants. These applications
should, in addition to (i) a confidential report from the applicants’ bankers and
(ii) a list showing the names of their directors, proprietors, partners etc., as also
their nationalities and addresses in Pakistan, be accompanied by the following:
(i) IATA TRAVEL AGENCIES: Original and one photo copy each of (a) approval of IATA
Membership and (b) licence granted by the Government under the Travel Agencies Act, 1976.
(ii) NON-IATA TRAVEL AGENCIES:(a) Letters from three IATA airlines sponsoring their
request and (b) original licence granted by the Government alongwith its photocopy.
(iii) GENERAL SALES AGENTS: (a) Original licence granted by the Government under the
Travel Agencies Act, 1976 alongwith its photo copy and (b) a letter from the airline
concerned indicating appointment as their general sales agents.
(iv) OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT PROMOTERS: Original licence granted by the Bureau of Emigration
alongwith its photo copy.
State Bank will, however, accord recognition in its absolute discretion. Recognition so
granted is liable to be withdrawn by the State Bank at any time without assigning any
reason.
4.Travel to countries other than Afghanistan by Pakistan nationals residing in Pakistan
(i) SALE OF TICKETS IN PAKISTAN.
(a) Airlines/Shipping Companies/Travel Agents may sell tickets to Pakistan nationals
resident in Pakistan against payment in Pakistan Rupees on production of passport and in
case the traveller is over 18 years of age also national identity card.
(b) Airlines/Shipping Companies/Travel Agents may sell tickets on any carrier to Pakistani
crew members going abroad to join ships, on the basis of a certificate from the Shipping
Master and a certificate from the local agents of the foreign ship owners to the effect
that the cost of passage is being paid out of the remittable rupee collections of their
foreign principals and that the same will be reported in the relative monthly Disbursement
Statement of the concerned principal. The local agent's certificate alongwith the Shipping
Master's Office certificate should be submitted with the monthly "Return of Passage
Bookings (Appendix V-37)".
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(ii) TICKETS RECEIVED FROM ABROAD.
Travel against P.T.As/tickets on PIA/Pakistan Shipping Companies as well as on foreign
carriers received from abroad may be allowed without approval of the State Bank of
Pakistan.
(iii) REBATED TICKETS.
(a) Travel by employees of Airlines/Shipping Companies and their dependents against 100%
rebated/free tickets may be authorised by the carriers concerned. Travel by persons
entitled to partly rebated tickets of PIA/Pakistan Shipping Companies may also be
authorised by the carriers concerned.
(b) Travel against 100% rebated tickets on the inaugural flights and other travel against
complimentary tickets issued under IATA Regulations may also be allowed on foreign
Airlines/Shipping Companies without any annual limit.
(c) Airlines/Shipping Companies are authorised to issue 100% rebated tickets to the
employees of other Airlines/Shipping Companies travelling on official duty. In such cases
the Airlines/Shipping Companies should attach a certificate indicating the name of
Airline/Shipping Company on whose official business the employee concerned has travelled.
5. Travel by non-resident Pakistan nationals.
(i) Airlines/Shipping Companies/Travel Agents are authorised to book passage of students
studying abroad who wish to visit Pakistan on holidays or for other reasons, on production
of a declaration by the parents/guardians countersigned by the Authorised Dealers through
which remittances are made for education of the students concerned. These declarations
should be surrendered in support of the bookings reported in the monthly Return of Passage
Bookings. Where one way passage of a student is desired to be booked on completion of
studies, Airlines/Shipping Companies/Travel Agents may issue ticket on the basis of
Authorised Dealer's certificate not later than 6 months after completion of the studies.
(ii) Pakistan nationals resident abroad returning to their jobs and their family members
accompanying them, may be sold one-way ticket for outward journey by any carrier.
(iii) Pakistan nationals resident abroad and their family members living with them, who
come to Pakistan on short visits, may be sold ticket for any destination against surrender
of equivalent amount in foreign exchange. The encashment certificate Appendix V-10) issued
by an Authorised Dealer in Pakistan should be surrendered alongwith monthly "Return
of Passage Bookings".
(iv) Pakistani emigrants holding foreign passport may be sold one-way ticket for their
return journey to their country of residence.
6. Restriction during Hajj Season
The general authority given for issue of tickets /booking of seats without the State
Bank's approval vide paragraphs 4 & shall not be valid for issue of tickets which
provide for travel to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Sudan, Djibouti, Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya,
Syria, Turkey and Greece during the period from 10th Shawal to 10th Zilhaj each year as
announced by the Ruet Hilal Committee except for the categories of travel specified below:
Wives wishing to join their husbands working in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Sudan, Djibouti,
Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Syria, Turkey and Greece.
ii) Children wishing to join such parents who are working in the above countries
iii) Parents wishing to join their sons/daughters working in the above countries.
iv) Those returning to duty.
v) Persons travelling to Saudi Arabia in response to invitation received from the
Government of Saudi Arabia.
vi) Students going to join educational institutions to which he/she has
been admitted plus his/her guardian duly authorised by Government of
Saudi Arabia.
vii)Officials on duty-en-route to Saudi Arabia and other countries specified above.
viii)Those going to Saudi Arabia against work permit or employment visa.
ix) Such Pakistanis as are working abroad (outside Saudi Arabia) and happen to be on leave
in Pakistan during Hajj season and wish to perform Hajj enroute while going to resume
their duties.
x) Those going against business visas secured after the certification by recognized
Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Pakistan.
(The above categories of travel are subject to change).
Accordingly, during the period from 10th Shawal to 10th Zilhaj each year Airlines/Shipping
Companies/Travel Agents will neither issue tickets nor provide seats for travel to Saudi
Arabia and neighbouring countries mentioned above in favour of persons not covered by the
exempted categories referred to above. Persons holding tickets for travel abroad where any
point in Saudi Arabia can be touched enroute should not be allowed break-journey/transit
in Saudi Arabia from 10th Shawal to 10th Zilhaj.
7. Booking of Passage for official travel of Government servants, employees of
semi-government institutions/autonomous bodies & nationalized/taken over
institutions/banks/other public sector organizations and travel of official
delegations/foreign nationals engaged by public sector organizations.
(i) On production of air travel warrant (Appendix V-65), passport and National Identity
Card in original, passage for the official travel of Government servants or members of an
official delegation as detailed in the warrant may be booked by PIA or a travel agent, in
which case the latter will approach the PIA for ticketing against Miscellaneous Charges
Order (MCO). In the case of travel by the officials of the departments/institutions/public
sector organizations etc., which do not issue air travel warrant, passage may be booked by
PIA on submission of an official letter from the department/institution/public sector
organization concerned authorizing such travel alongwith the passport and National
Identity Card, in original. If the passage is desired to be booked by a
department/institution/public sector organization through their approved travel agent,
they may do so but in that case the travel agent should approach the PIA for ticketing
against MCO. In cases where such traveller is abroad and ticket for inward journey is
desired to be issued by the department/institution/public sector organization concerned,
production of passport and National Identity Card in original will not be required.
Release of foreign exchange to such officials will continue to be made by the State Bank.
(ii) Inward or round trip passage of foreign expatriates engaged by the public sector
organizations for employment with them may also be booked by PIA or a travel agent, in
which case the latter will approach the PIA for ticketing against MCO on the basis
of employer's letter of request.
In the above cases PIA/travel agents will, before booking of passage, ensure that the air
travel warrant or the letter of authorisation or the employer's letter of request, as the
case may be, is genuine and it has been issued over the signature of an authorised
official of the concerned department/institution/public sector organization. In case of
doubt, PlA/travel agents may contact the concerned government
department/institution/public sector organization, for verification. In support of such
bookings, the air travel warrant or the letter of authorisation or the employer's letter
of request, as the case may be, should be attached with the relative monthly "Return
of Passage Bookings".
8. Booking of passages of Foreign Nationals.
In the following cases Airlines/Shipping Companies/Travel Agents can book outward/inward
or round trip passages of foreign nationals without the prior approval of the State Bank.
(i) Passages paid for by Foreign Missions/International Organizations/United nations and
its Organizations.
Where passages of foreign nationals are paid for by foreign missions/international
organizations in Pakistan through cheques drawn by them on their convertible Rupee
accounts or foreign currency accounts in Pakistan. In such cases it will be necessary for
the traveller to produce to Airlines/Shipping Companies/Travel Agents an official letter
from the foreign mission / international organization concerned confirming that the cheque
has been drawn on their convertible Rupee/foreign currency account. The official letter
should also indicate the number of cheque as well as the name of the bank on which the
cheque has been drawn. As regards the United Nations and its Organizations,
Airlines/Shipping Companies/Travel Agents may accept payments for such bookings through
cheques drawn on any of their official bank accounts in Pakistan.
(ii) Booking of passages of Foreign Nationals working/residing in Pakistan and their
Family Members.
(a) Where travel is undertaken by foreign nationals and their family members provided such
foreign nationals are employed with a Government or a Semi-Government agency and if
employed in the private sector, they hold work permit/visa from the concerned authority.
In such cases Airlines, Shipping Companies and Travel Agents should ask the foreign
national to produce a certificate of employment from the Government or the official agency
concerned or a copy of the work permit/work visa. In their monthly returns the
Airlines/Shipping Companies will invariably quote the number and date of the
letter/permit/visa in support of such bookings. Passages of foreign nationals working in
Pakistan who do not hold permission letter but are otherwise enjoying exchange facility
from the State Bank/an Authorised Dealer or are employed in educational/charitable
institutions or hospitals can also be booked against payment in rupees without the prior
approval of the State Bank. Airlines/Shipping Companies will report such bookings in their
monthly return duly supported by a certificate of the bankers of the concerned foreign
national to the effect that he/she is enjoying family maintenance remittance facility from
the State Bank of Pakistan/an Authorised Dealer (Name of the Office) vide (Permit No.)
dated________ or a certificate from the educational/charitable institution or hospital
where the concerned foreign national is employed.
(b) Where travel abroad to the country of domicile is undertaken by foreign nationals and
their family members residing/working in Pakistan but such travel is not covered by
sub-para (a) provided their continuous stay in Pakistan prior to the issue of ticket is
not less than 6 months, which should be verified with reference to the immigration stamp
on the passport of the travellers.
(iii) Foreign Experts/Technicians.
Where inward/outward or round trip journey is undertaken by foreign experts/technicians
being engaged in the private sector for rendering such services as supervision of
installation, commissioning of the plant and training of personnel. The employers letter
of request and their bankers certificate that engagement of the foreign national is
covered by the Industrial Policy Statement should be attached with the monthly
"Return of Passage Bookings".
(iv) Booking of Passage of Foreign Nationals Against Encashment Certificates.
(a) Where outward passage of foreign nationals (including persons of Indo-Pak origin),
irrespective of their residential status, is desired to be booked against encashment
certificate of Authorised Dealers (Appendix V- 10) evidencing receipt/encashment of
foreign exchange in Pakistan in cover of the Rupee cost of the relative ticket, provided
foreign exchange has been surrendered to an Authorised Dealer not earlier than 30 days
from the date of booking. While reporting such bookings in their monthly "Return of
Passage Bookings" airlines and shipping companies will enclose the relative
encashment certificate in support of such bookings.
(b) Where outward passage/excess baggage, whether accompanied or unaccompanied, of foreign
tourists is desired to be booked against payment in foreign exchange to the
airlines/shipping companies on holidays or at odd hours when banks are closed, the foreign
exchange so surrendered by the tourists and accepted by airlines/shipping companies, shall
be surrendered by them to an Authorised Dealer on the next working day alongwith a letter
indicating the name of the traveller and particulars of his passport viz. its No. and
place of issue and a bank's encashment certificate obtained. These certificates shall be
attached by the Airlines/Shipping Companies alongwith their relative passage/freight
statement in support of such bookings.
(c) Where outward passage or excess baggage, both accompanied and unaccompanied, of
foreign nationals is desired to be booked against International Credit Card, the
Airlines/Shipping Companies have first to satisfy themselves about the genuineness,
validity etc., of the Card and then prepare a Charge Form. The Charge Form will be signed
by the Card holder in acknowledgement of the purchase made against the Card. The name of
the Card holder, Credit Card No. etc., would be clearly indicated on the Charge Form in
proof of Credit Card having been presented by the holder for booking of passage or excess
baggage. A copy of the Charge Form duly filled and signed by the Card holder will be
attached by the Airlines/Shipping Companies alongwith their relative passage/freight
statement in support of such bookings.
(v) PTAs/Tickets received from Abroad.
Where travel abroad is undertaken by foreign nationals against PTAs / tickets received
from abroad.
(vi) Foreign Students.
Where travel abroad to any destination is undertaken by foreign students studying in
Pakistan. A certificate of the educational institution concerned should be surrendered
with the monthly "Return of Passage Bookings".
(vii) Foreign Crews.
Where outward journey is undertaken by foreign crews of foreign shipping companies,
provided the cost of passage is paid by the agent of the foreign shipping company.
(viii) Foreign Born Wives and Children of Pakistan Nationals.
Foreign born wives and children of Pakistan nationals, holding foreign passports and
ordinarily residing in Pakistan are eligible to the facilities mentioned in paragraph 4,
9, 17, 18 and 25 provided they otherwise qualify for the same.
9. Travel to Afghanistan.
Airlines/Travel Agents can book outward or round trip passages without the approval of the
State Bank for travel to Afghanistan.
10. Journey from Pakistan against Outward Coupons of Return Tickets.
Airlines/Shipping Companies may authorize persons to emplane/embark against outward
coupons of return tickets provided the traveller is a foreign national or in the case of
Pakistani national, the traveller is resident/settled abroad and holds a work
permit/residence visa abroad or his stay abroad is not less than 6 months.
