Pakistan and Sudan have signed an agreement that lets holders of official and diplomatic passports travel between the two countries without visas. The pact was signed in Islamabad on Saturday by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his Sudanese counterpart, Lieutenant General Babiker Samra Mustafa Ali.
The two sides also agreed to widen cooperation in security, cybercrime, police training and other sectors, which the officials presented as a way of deepening ties.
Visa exemption seen as milestone in bilateral ties
Naqvi called the visa-free arrangement an important milestone in bilateral relations, saying it would make high-level contacts between the two countries easier. Under the deal, diplomatic and official passport holders from both countries will not need visas when visiting each other’s territory.
The Sudanese interior minister said the agreement would further strengthen friendly relations and institutional cooperation between the two states.
Cybercrime memorandum and Nadra’s role in civil registration
Both sides agreed to strengthen institutional collaboration in internal security, cybercrime, police training and civil registration. They also decided to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on tackling cybercrime, with the Sudanese minister keen to draw on Pakistan’s expertise in the field.
Naqvi said Pakistan was ready to offer all possible help in restoring peace and supporting Sudan’s reconstruction, and offered professional training for Sudanese police officers. He credited the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) with helping Sudan issue 36 million citizenship cards, nine million national identity cards, 18 million birth certificates and 500,000 death certificates. He said Nadra was ready to keep supporting Sudan’s civil registration process.
Visa relief for Sudanese women and healthcare access
Separately, Naqvi directed officials to quickly resolve visa problems faced by Sudanese women married to Pakistani nationals. He also said Sudanese citizens could use medical facilities in Pakistan, and that all possible assistance would be provided in the healthcare sector.
The Sudanese minister welcomed Pakistan’s offers of cooperation and thanked it for support across several fields. He described Pakistan as a brotherly country and said Sudan wanted to expand ties with Islamabad across different sectors.
