March 20, 2008	Thursday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 11, 1429

ISLAMABAD, March 19: The British High Commission on Wednesday launched a new Premium Visa Scheme for frequent and trusted travellers to the United Kingdom, a statement said.

The scheme offers long-term visas, typically five or 10 years, and is aimed particularly at entrepreneurs with a proven history of visiting Britain.

The visa scheme was launched in conjunction with the new Trusted Partners Scheme, which establishes links between the British High Commission’s visa section and various chambers of industry and commerce in Pakistan.

Introducing the scheme to an audience of regular business travellers and members of various chambers, the director of UK Visa Services for Pakistan, Alex Pond, said: “We are determined to foster closer mutual and beneficial links between the visa section, UK, the chambers and those companies which have already, or will have, close trading links with the UK.” — Our Reporter