Today I am enjoying the feeling of being a law-abiding citizen. It may be the last day of that for awhile. I entered Pakistan on a three-month business visa that expires tomorrow, at which point I have no official documentation to demonstrate my authority to remain in the country. Good times!
It’s not like I didn’t do everything I could to follow the rules. I turned in the proper forms, signed the proper stuff, and endured an awkward visit from an agent of the Pakistan government’s Minister of the Interior (MOI). He stopped by our offices a month ago to check me out, presumably to verify that I was, in fact, a development professional and not a high-class Russian hooker. (After the Avari, I feel anything’s possible.) He was then supposed to forward my application to the proper authorities so they could issue me a nice, shining new two-year multiple entry visa.
Our office has worked to renew my visa through all the proper channels. So far, they have not been successful. As I contemplate the kind of living quarters one would be assigned should one find oneself on the Pakistani government’s bad side, let’s do a quick scan of my office’s efforts to keep me legal:
June 2:
Dear Miss,
With regard to your visa, MOI will send a reminder today to the agencies and have asked me to check with them again on Thursday.
June 4
Dear Miss,
After calling the MOI today came to know that they did not hear from the concerned agencies so far. Will call them again on Saturday.
Cheers!
June 11
Hi,
Ma’am there is no alternative we have to wait and they are aware of the expiry of your visa and said that they will hopefully get the NOC early next week. We have no choice than to wait.
I remember the food on Qatar Airlines was not half bad.
June 17
Dear Miss,
Just so you know that I am constantly following up with MOI with regard to your visa extensions. They have already sent 2 reminders to the concerned agencies but no clearance received so far from them. MOI will send another reminder today and I shall call again on Friday to check the status. They were quite apologetic for the delay which is happening due to the security situation as the personnel are deputed to other tasks of the said matter.
Cheers
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