Over 400 Pak Hindus get long-term visas, now eligible to buy property

NEW DELHI: Over 400 Pakistani nationals, who are from minority communities there, will be eligible for buying property in the country with the government granting them long-term visas.

Official sources said 431 Pakistani nationals have been granted long-term visas by the government so far and this would allow them to obtain PAN and Aadhaar cards as well as allow them to buy property.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had evolved a policy to allow minority communities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh - Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians - and now staying in India on a long-term visa to buy residential property here.

This was part of the Narendra Modi government's policy to help minorities persecuted in the neighbouring countries.

Though they are barred from buying immovable property in and around restricted or protected areas, these people can buy residential property here.

The government has also allowed free movement within a state or Union territory where they were staying. Such people were also allowed to carry out self-employment.

This policy also allowed them to open bank accounts without the prior approval of the Reserve Bank of India.

Official sources said the MHA came up with the policy keeping in mind hardships being faced by the minority communities in Pakistan staying in India on Long-Term Visa.

They said the MHA has also given security clearance to 1,800 Pakistani nationals of the Ahmadiyya community to attend the 123rd 'Jalsa Salana' at Qadian in Gurdaspur district of Punjab from December 29 to December 31.

DH News Service