KARACHI, April 25: China has tightened business visa rules for security reasons ahead of Olympics and according to importers and traders it has suspended issuing visas to businessmen till September 2008.

An official in the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) also confirmed to Dawn that the Chinese Consulate had made changes in the rules for issuing visa. He said that a checklist has been issued by the consulate asking the KCCI to first verify the list before putting up visa applications of the businessmen.

He said that the consulate had clearly mentioned that the application of the first time visitor to China will not be entertained. Besides, the applicant must have visited China twice and he will be required to produce the invitation from his Chinese counterpart.

Traders revealed that a large number of businessmen dealing in children footwear, garments, imitation jewellery, etc, were planning to visit China this month for placing of orders for these items for the Eid season.

Sources said that the Chinese government might have specifically restricted the movement of trading community, while selective industrialists having joint venture with Chinese counterparts are not facing any problem. Traders Action Committee (TAC) chairman Siddiq Memon claimed that not only the issuance of visa to traders had been stopped till September, but hundreds of visas based on invitations issued earlier by the Chinese sponsors, have also been suspended.

A large number of importers and traders are now perturbed for not getting the Chinese visa; he said adding that traders cannot think of importing these items from other countries because they are costlier by 50 per cent as compared to China.

He said a delegation of TAC will hold a meeting with the Chinese Consul General in order to resolve the issue suspension of visas for three months.

Meanwhile, Association of Pakistan Motorcycle Assemblers (APMA) chairman Mohammad Sabir Shaikh said that the representatives of some 15 Chinese bike assemblers had visited the neighboring country in the current month and many others are planning a visit, while some are still there.

He said that usually ‘our principals’ issued the official invitation for the visit of their Pakistani counterparts to China. The local assemblers attach the copy of invitation with the visa form and submit to the consulate, which issues the visa.

Mr. Sabir said that so far the genuine businessmen had not faced any problem. He alleged that traders were usually seen roaming in the streets of Beijing and other cities and they stayed there for 20-25 days. However, the industrialists usually confine their visit to their principals’ offices and factories.

Former chairman of F.B. Area Association of Trade and Industry (FBATI), Masroor Ahmed Alvi, who had returned from China on Thursday after attending Canton textile fair, also said that the Chinese consulate was not encouraging the new visa applicants.

He said that the Chinese consulate now demanded three documents from the business people – an invitation from the principal in China, a letter from relevant local chamber or association and thirdly the applicant must have earlier paid two visits to China.

These visa restrictions had been enforced in view of security measures for the upcoming Olympics in August.

FBATI Chairman Idris Gigi said that at least 40-50 visas had been issued to the genuine industrialists this month on the recommendation of FBATI. For the last five years the consulate had been offering visas to the FBATI members on the recommendation of the association.

A toy importer, who asked not to be named, said his supplier in China had informed him that new visa rules have also been laid down for Indian and Bangladeshi traders and businessmen.