State Bank of Pakistan - The Central Bank

CHAPTER XVII

TRAVEL

General.
Persons from whom applications will be received by the State Bank.
Applications for grant of State Bank's recognition.
Travel to countries other than Afghanistan by Pakistan nationals residing in Pakistan.
Travel by non-resident Pakistan nationals.
Restriction during Hajj Season.
Booking of Passage for official travel of Government servants, employees of semi-government institutions/autonomous bodies & nationalized/taken over institutions/banks/other public sector organizations and travel of official delegations/foreign nationals engaged by public sector organizations.
Booking of passages of Foreign Nationals.
Travel to Afghanistan.
Journey from Pakistan against Outward Coupons of Return Tickets.
Passage approval in other cases and its validity.
Issue of Tickets.
Collection of Difference in Fare.
Refund against Cancellation of Tickets.
No Refunds Outside Pakistan.
Return of Passage Bookings.
Release of Foreign Exchange by Authorised Dealers for foreign travel.
Sale of foreign exchange to Pakistan nationals resident in Pakistan for travel to India and Bangladesh.
Private travel by Government Servants, employees of Semi-Government Institutions/autonomous bodies and nationalized/taken over institutions/banks.
Restriction as to re-issue of unspent amount of 'PTEQ' surrendered to an Authorised Dealer.
Travel by journalists/participation in international conferences/ seminars/ games/ meetings and sports events etc., in private capacity.
Sale of foreign exchange for Professional Training.
Foreign exchange for Tabligh.
Foreign exchange for Medical Treatment abroad.
Release of Exchange for Miscellaneous purposes.
Exchange Quota to Government/Semi-Government Employees going on Delegations, Duty, Posting, Leave, Retirement and Training.
Migration.
Business Travel Abroad.
Booking of passage/release of exchange for business visits abroad on the basis of Certificates of Trade Organizations.
Booking of passage/Release of foreign exchange to representatives of Consultancy/Constructions companies and firms.
Release of Exchange to Pakistani exporters for participation in International Trade Fairs /Exhibitions in Private Capacity.
Business Travel abroad with the approval of State Bank.
Blanket permission for business travel abroad to exporters of commodities, services etc.
Booking of passage against blanket permission.
Release of Foreign Exchange against blanket permission.
Release of Foreign Exchange against Credit Cards to exporters.
Release of Foreign Exchange to business executives of firms/companies other than exporters against Credit Cards.
Combination of two exchange facilities.
Foreign Exchange facilities for studies abroad.
Freight on Personal Baggage.
Release of Foreign Exchange for travel, education, medical treatment etc.
Conversion of Unspent Balance of Rupees by Foreign Nationals.
Endorsement on Passports and Tickets.
Form in which Exchange may be issued.
Surrender by Travellers of Unspent Foreign Exchange.
Exchange for Hajj.
Remittances for maintenance expenses of the families of Pakistanis living abroad temporarily.

1. General.

This chapter sets out the rules in accordance with which the Airlines/Shipping Companies/Travel Agents may sell tickets and Authorised Dealers may release foreign exchange for travel abroad.

2. Persons from whom applications will be received by the State Bank.

In cases where booking of passage and release of foreign exchange require State Bank's prior approval, State Bank will entertain applications for approval of passage on Form "P" or "P-2" (Appendices V-62 and V-63 and for release of foreign exchange on Form T-1 (Appendix V-64) from the following only:

(i) Applicants themselves.

(ii) Authorised representatives of Airlines/Shipping Companies.

(iii) Authorised representatives of such travel agencies/general sales agents licensed by the Government under the Travel Agencies Act, 1976 and Overseas Employment Promoters licensed by the Bureau of Emigration, which are recognized by the State Bank for the purpose.

(iv) Authorised representatives of the Authorised Dealers.

3. Applications for grant of State Bank’s recognition.

Applications for grant of recognition for the purpose of para 2 (iii) above should be made to the State Bank through the bankers of the applicants. These applications should, in addition to (i) a confidential report from the applicants’ bankers and (ii) a list showing the names of their directors, proprietors, partners etc., as also their nationalities and addresses in Pakistan, be accompanied by the following:

(i) IATA TRAVEL AGENCIES: Original and one photo copy each of (a) approval of IATA Membership and (b) licence granted by the Government under the Travel Agencies Act, 1976.

(ii) NON-IATA TRAVEL AGENCIES:(a) Letters from three IATA airlines sponsoring their request and (b) original licence granted by the Government alongwith its photocopy.

(iii) GENERAL SALES AGENTS: (a) Original licence granted by the Government under the Travel Agencies Act, 1976 alongwith its photo copy and (b) a letter from the airline concerned indicating appointment as their general sales agents.

(iv) OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT PROMOTERS: Original licence granted by the Bureau of Emigration alongwith its photo copy.

State Bank will, however, accord recognition in its absolute discretion. Recognition so granted is liable to be withdrawn by the State Bank at any time without assigning any reason.

4. Travel to countries other than Afghanistan by Pakistan nationals residing in Pakistan

(i) SALE OF TICKETS IN PAKISTAN.

(a) Airlines/Shipping Companies/Travel Agents may sell tickets to Pakistan nationals resident in Pakistan against payment in Pakistan Rupees on production of passport and in case the traveller is over 18 years of age also national identity card.

(b) Airlines/Shipping Companies/Travel Agents may sell tickets on any carrier to Pakistani crew members going abroad to join ships, on the basis of a certificate from the Shipping Master and a certificate from the local agents of the foreign ship owners to the effect that the cost of passage is being paid out of the remittable rupee collections of their foreign principals and that the same will be reported in the relative monthly Disbursement Statement of the concerned principal. The local agent's certificate alongwith the Shipping Master's Office certificate should be submitted with the monthly "Return of Passage Bookings (Appendix V-37)".

(ii) TICKETS RECEIVED FROM ABROAD.

Travel against P.T.As/tickets on PIA/Pakistan Shipping Companies as well as on foreign carriers received from abroad may be allowed without approval of the State Bank of Pakistan.

(iii) REBATED TICKETS.

(a) Travel by employees of Airlines/Shipping Companies and their dependents against 100% rebated/free tickets may be authorised by the carriers concerned. Travel by persons entitled to partly rebated tickets of PIA/Pakistan Shipping Companies may also be authorised by the carriers concerned.

(b) Travel against 100% rebated tickets on the inaugural flights and other travel against complimentary tickets issued under IATA Regulations may also be allowed on foreign Airlines/Shipping Companies without any annual limit.

(c) Airlines/Shipping Companies are authorised to issue 100% rebated tickets to the employees of other Airlines/Shipping Companies travelling on official duty. In such cases the Airlines/Shipping Companies should attach a certificate indicating the name of Airline/Shipping Company on whose official business the employee concerned has travelled.

5. Travel by non-resident Pakistan nationals.

(i) Airlines/Shipping Companies/Travel Agents are authorised to book passage of students studying abroad who wish to visit Pakistan on holidays or for other reasons, on production of a declaration by the parents/guardians countersigned by the Authorised Dealers through which remittances are made for education of the students concerned. These declarations should be surrendered in support of the bookings reported in the monthly Return of Passage Bookings. Where one way passage of a student is desired to be booked on completion of studies, Airlines/Shipping Companies/Travel Agents may issue ticket on the basis of Authorised Dealer's certificate not later than 6 months after completion of the studies.

(ii) Pakistan nationals resident abroad returning to their jobs and their family members accompanying them, may be sold one-way ticket for outward journey by any carrier.

(iii) Pakistan nationals resident abroad and their family members living with them, who come to Pakistan on short visits, may be sold ticket for any destination against surrender of equivalent amount in foreign exchange. The encashment certificate (Appendix V-10) issued by an Authorised Dealer in Pakistan should be surrendered alongwith monthly "Return of Passage Bookings".

(iv) Pakistani emigrants holding foreign passport may be sold one-way ticket for their return journey to their country of residence.

6. Restriction during Hajj Season.

The general authority given for issue of tickets /booking of seats without the State Bank's approval vide paragraphs 4 & 5 shall not be valid for issue of tickets which provide for travel to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Sudan, Djibouti, Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Syria, Turkey and Greece during the period from 10th Shawal to 10th Zilhaj each year as announced by the Ruet Hilal Committee except for the categories of travel specified below:

i) Wives wishing to join their husbands working in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Sudan, Djibouti, Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Syria, Turkey and Greece.

ii) Children wishing to join such parents who are working in the above countries.

iii) Parents wishing to join their sons/daughters working in the above countries.

iv) Those returning to duty.

v) Persons travelling to Saudi Arabia in response to invitation received from the Government of Saudi Arabia.

vi) Students going to join educational institutions to which he/she has been admitted plus his/her guardian duly authorised by Government of Saudi Arabia.

vii)Officials on duty-en-route to Saudi Arabia and other countries specified above.

viii)Those going to Saudi Arabia against work permit or employment visa.

ix) Such Pakistanis as are working abroad (outside Saudi Arabia) and happen to be on leave in Pakistan during Hajj season and wish to perform Hajj enroute while going to resume their duties.

x) Those going against business visas secured after the certification by recognized Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Pakistan.

(The above categories of travel are subject to change).

Accordingly, during the period from 10th Shawal to 10th Zilhaj each year Airlines/Shipping Companies/Travel Agents will neither issue tickets nor provide seats for travel to Saudi Arabia and neighbouring countries mentioned above in favour of persons not covered by the exempted categories referred to above. Persons holding tickets for travel abroad where any point in Saudi Arabia can be touched enroute should not be allowed break-journey/transit in Saudi Arabia from 10th Shawal to 10th Zilhaj.

7. Booking of Passage for official travel of Government servants, employees of semi-government institutions/autonomous bodies & nationalized/taken over institutions/banks/other public sector organizations and travel of official delegations/foreign nationals engaged by public sector organizations.

(i) On production of air travel warrant (Appendix V-65), passport and National Identity Card in original, passage for the official travel of Government servants or members of an official delegation as detailed in the warrant may be booked by PIA or a travel agent, in which case the latter will approach the PIA for ticketing against Miscellaneous Charges Order (MCO). In the case of travel by the officials of the departments/institutions/public sector organizations etc., which do not issue air travel warrant, passage may be booked by PIA on submission of an official letter from the department/institution/public sector organization concerned authorizing such travel alongwith the passport and National Identity Card, in original. If the passage is desired to be booked by a department/institution/public sector organization through their approved travel agent, they may do so but in that case the travel agent should approach the PIA for ticketing against MCO. In cases where such traveller is abroad and ticket for inward journey is desired to be issued by the department/institution/public sector organization concerned, production of passport and National Identity Card in original will not be required. Release of foreign exchange to such officials will continue to be made by the State Bank.

(ii) Inward or round trip passage of foreign expatriates engaged by the public sector organizations for employment with them may also be booked by PIA or a travel agent, in which case the latter will approach the PIA for ticketing against MCO on the basis of employer's letter of request.

In the above cases PIA/travel agents will, before booking of passage, ensure that the air travel warrant or the letter of authorisation or the employer's letter of request, as the case may be, is genuine and it has been issued over the signature of an authorised official of the concerned department/institution/public sector organization. In case of doubt, PlA/travel agents may contact the concerned government department/institution/public sector organization, for verification. In support of such bookings, the air travel warrant or the letter of authorisation or the employer's letter of request, as the case may be, should be attached with the relative monthly "Return of Passage Bookings".

8. Booking of passages of Foreign Nationals.

In the following cases Airlines/Shipping Companies/Travel Agents can book outward/inward or round trip passages of foreign nationals without the prior approval of the State Bank.

(i) Passages paid for by Foreign Missions/International Organizations/United nations and its Organizations.

Where passages of foreign nationals are paid for by foreign missions/international organizations in Pakistan through cheques drawn by them on their convertible Rupee accounts or foreign currency accounts in Pakistan. In such cases it will be necessary for the traveller to produce to Airlines/Shipping Companies/Travel Agents an official letter from the foreign mission / international organization concerned confirming that the cheque has been drawn on their convertible Rupee/foreign currency account. The official letter should also indicate the number of cheque as well as the name of the bank on which the cheque has been drawn. As regards the United Nations and its Organizations, Airlines/Shipping Companies/Travel Agents may accept payments for such bookings through cheques drawn on any of their official bank accounts in Pakistan.

(ii) Booking of passages of Foreign Nationals working/residing in Pakistan and their Family Members.

(a) Where travel is undertaken by foreign nationals and their family members provided such foreign nationals are employed with a Government or a Semi-Government agency and if employed in the private sector, they hold work permit/visa from the concerned authority. In such cases Airlines, Shipping Companies and Travel Agents should ask the foreign national to produce a certificate of employment from the Government or the official agency concerned or a copy of the work permit/work visa. In their monthly returns the Airlines/Shipping Companies will invariably quote the number and date of the letter/permit/visa in support of such bookings. Passages of foreign nationals working in Pakistan who do not hold permission letter but are otherwise enjoying exchange facility from the State Bank/an Authorised Dealer or are employed in educational/charitable institutions or hospitals can also be booked against payment in rupees without the prior approval of the State Bank. Airlines/Shipping Companies will report such bookings in their monthly return duly supported by a certificate of the bankers of the concerned foreign national to the effect that he/she is enjoying family maintenance remittance facility from the State Bank of Pakistan/an Authorised Dealer (Name of the Office) vide (Permit No.) dated________ or a certificate from the educational/charitable institution or hospital where the concerned foreign national is employed.

(b) Where travel abroad to the country of domicile is undertaken by foreign nationals and their family members residing/working in Pakistan but such travel is not covered by sub-para (a) provided their continuous stay in Pakistan prior to the issue of ticket is not less than 6 months, which should be verified with reference to the immigration stamp on the passport of the travellers.

(iii) Foreign Experts/Technicians.

Where inward/outward or round trip journey is undertaken by foreign experts/technicians being engaged in the private sector for rendering such services as supervision of installation, commissioning of the plant and training of personnel. The employers letter of request and their bankers certificate that engagement of the foreign national is covered by the Industrial Policy Statement should be attached with the monthly "Return of Passage Bookings".

(iv) Booking of Passage of Foreign Nationals Against Encashment Certificates.

(a) Where outward passage of foreign nationals (including persons of Indo-Pak origin), irrespective of their residential status, is desired to be booked against encashment certificate of Authorised Dealers (Appendix V- 10) evidencing receipt/encashment of foreign exchange in Pakistan in cover of the Rupee cost of the relative ticket, provided foreign exchange has been surrendered to an Authorised Dealer not earlier than 30 days from the date of booking. While reporting such bookings in their monthly "Return of Passage Bookings" airlines and shipping companies will enclose the relative encashment certificate in support of such bookings.

(b) Where outward passage/excess baggage, whether accompanied or unaccompanied, of foreign tourists is desired to be booked against payment in foreign exchange to the airlines/shipping companies on holidays or at odd hours when banks are closed, the foreign exchange so surrendered by the tourists and accepted by airlines/shipping companies, shall be surrendered by them to an Authorised Dealer on the next working day alongwith a letter indicating the name of the traveller and particulars of his passport viz. its No. and place of issue and a bank's encashment certificate obtained. These certificates shall be attached by the Airlines/Shipping Companies alongwith their relative passage/freight statement in support of such bookings.

(c) Where outward passage or excess baggage, both accompanied and unaccompanied, of foreign nationals is desired to be booked against International Credit Card, the Airlines/Shipping Companies have first to satisfy themselves about the genuineness, validity etc., of the Card and then prepare a Charge Form. The Charge Form will be signed by the Card holder in acknowledgement of the purchase made against the Card. The name of the Card holder, Credit Card No. etc., would be clearly indicated on the Charge Form in proof of Credit Card having been presented by the holder for booking of passage or excess baggage. A copy of the Charge Form duly filled and signed by the Card holder will be attached by the Airlines/Shipping Companies alongwith their relative passage/freight statement in support of such bookings.

(v) PTAs/Tickets received from Abroad.

Where travel abroad is undertaken by foreign nationals against PTAs / tickets received from abroad.

(vi) Foreign Students.

Where travel abroad to any destination is undertaken by foreign students studying in Pakistan. A certificate of the educational institution concerned should be surrendered with the monthly "Return of Passage Bookings".

(vii) Foreign Crews.

Where outward journey is undertaken by foreign crews of foreign shipping companies, provided the cost of passage is paid by the agent of the foreign shipping company.

(viii) Foreign Born Wives and Children of Pakistan Nationals.

Foreign born wives and children of Pakistan nationals, holding foreign passports and ordinarily residing in Pakistan are eligible to the facilities mentioned in paragraph 4, 9, 17, 18 and 25 provided they otherwise qualify for the same.

9. Travel to Afghanistan.

Airlines/Travel Agents can book outward or round trip passages without the approval of the State Bank for travel to Afghanistan.

10. Journey from Pakistan against Outward Coupons of Return Tickets.

Airlines/Shipping Companies may authorize persons to emplane/embark against outward coupons of return tickets provided the traveller is a foreign national or in the case of Pakistani national, the traveller is resident/settled abroad and holds a work permit/residence visa abroad or his stay abroad is not less than 6 months.

11. Passage approval in other cases and its validity.

In all cases other than those specified in previous paragraphs Airlines/Travel Agents/Shipping Companies should not book passages unless State Bank's approval on Form 'P' / 'P-2' is produced to them. Passages booked against State Bank's approval on Form 'P'/'P-2' should provide for travel within 3 months from the date of approval in respect of journeys originating from Pakistan.

12. Issue of Tickets.

(i) Airlines/Shipping Companies and Travel Agents may book passages against payment in Rupees as permissible under the rules, provided booking is made by normal direct route. In other cases, prior approval of the State Bank is necessary.

(ii) Tickets for outward journeys from Pakistan issued by Airlines/Shipping Companies or Travel Agents under the general authority delegated to them in terms of paragraphs 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9 should invariably indicate the date of departure which should be within three months from the date of issue of the tickets subject to the restrictions mentioned in paragraph 6.

(iii) If a request is made to the Airlines/Shipping Companies or Travel Agents for an alteration in the date of departure after a ticket has been issued, the Airlines/Shipping Companies or Travel Agents may allow extension in the date of departure upto one month from the date on which a person is originally booked to travel subject to the restrictions mentioned in paragraph 6.

(iv) Airlines and Travel Agents should make the following endorsements on tickets issued to passengers travelling within Pakistan or to Afghanistan:

(a) For transportation within Pakistan: - "Valid for transportation within Pakistan only".

(b) For transportation to Afghanistan for which approval on form 'P' is not necessary: - "Destination not changeable".

(v) Airlines/Shipping Companies/Travel Agents, while issuing tickets, will endorse the passport of the passenger in the following manner under their proper authentication and stamp:

(a) Ticket of .............................. (Name of carrier) for .............................. issued (destination) on .............................. for .............................. (purpose of visit)

STAMP & SIGNATURE

(b) In case where tickets/PTAS are received from abroad, the endorsement on the passports should be made by the carrier concerned in the following manner:

Travel to .............................. (destination) against the ticket of .............................. (name of carrier) received from abroad authorised for .............................. (purpose)

STAMP & SIGNATURE

(vi) In all cases of issue of tickets under the authority of paras 4 and 5 of this chapter, the number of the passport and its date and place of issue will be recorded by the Airlines/Shipping Companies/Travel Agents on the first coupon of each ticket. A photo copy of these coupons will be submitted by the foreign carriers alongwith the monthly "Return of Passage Bookings" prescribed vide paragraph 16 of this chapter. The number of the relevant paragraph of this chapter will be quoted in column No. 12 of the "Return" in those cases where passage is sold under the authority delegated to the Airlines/Shipping Companies/Travel Agents.

13. Collection of Difference in Fare.

(i) It will be in order for the carriers to accept difference arising either from increase in fare or rerouting in respect of tickets issued in Pakistan subject to the same terms and conditions as laid down for issue of tickets under the general authority delegated to them in this chapter. In case of tickets purchased abroad, difference may be accepted in Pak Rupees if the traveller is otherwise entitled to purchase a ticket against payment in Pak Rupees under the facility of private travel allowed in terms of the provisions of this chapter.

(ii) In the case of foreign nationals coming to Pakistan against tickets issued outside Pakistan and who, on arrival in Pakistan, desire some alteration or amendment in the ticket, airlines and shipping companies or travel agents may carry out such alteration or amendment without the prior approval of the State Bank provided additional payment in Rupees on account of the cost of such amendments/alterations does not exceed Rs. 100/- per person. In such cases amounts in excess of Rs.100/- can be collected by airlines, shipping companies etc., only with the prior approval of the State Bank. This restriction, however, does not apply to cases where additional payment in Rupees is made by the foreign traveller out of funds received from abroad or against encashment of foreign currency or M.C.O's issued abroad.

14. Refund against Cancellation of Tickets.

Carriers have general permission to allow refund against partly or wholly unutilized tickets without the prior approval of the State Bank in the following cases:

(i) Wholly unutilized tickets:

(a) Where the carriers have satisfied themselves by examination of relative documents that the ticket holder has not drawn any foreign exchange.

(b) Where the foreign exchange drawn by the ticket holder has been surrendered to an Authorised Dealer. In such cases the relative encashment certificates should be attached with the refund statement.

(ii) Partly utilized tickets: Where refund is in respect of

(a) Travel between two points outside Pakistan except where a point of travel involved is in India or Bangladesh, and

(b) Return journey portion of a ticket originally issued for two way travel.

15. No refunds Outside Pakistan.

(i) In all cases of bookings made against payments in Rupees, whether single or round trip, no refunds should be granted outside Pakistan. In all such cases refunds should be made only in Rupees in Pakistan. All tickets/vouchers etc., must be marked accordingly. Airlines and Shipping Companies should also ensure that such refunds are not given in the form of exchange vouchers or in any other form, which can be used for further transportation. All such refunds must be made either by cheque or in cash.

(ii) In respect of a first class ticket involving travel by sea or air issued to a traveller, whether Pakistan or a foreign national, it is not permissible to convert it into one, which enables the passenger to travel in a lower class. All such requests must be referred to the State Bank for prior approval.

16. Return of Passage Bookings.

(i) Airlines and Shipping Companies should furnish to the concerned Authorised Dealer a monthly return of all passages sold or tickets issued by them in the prescribed form (Appendix V-37) according to the instructions contained in para 3 of Chapter XIV.

(ii) In all cases of cancellations or refunds of passages a monthly statement should be submitted in the prescribed form (Appendix V-42). In this regard reference is invited to para 3 of Chapter XIV.

(iii) No returns are required to be submitted by Travel Agents to the State Bank. They are, however, required to maintain a complete record of all passages sold by them in the prescribed form (Appendix V-37).

17. Release of Foreign Exchange by Authorised Dealers for foreign travel.

Authorised Dealers may release foreign exchange for foreign travel in accordance with the instructions set out below:

(i) Sale of Foreign Exchange to Pakistan nationals resident in Pakistan for travel to countries other than India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

Pakistan nationals resident in Pakistan are entitled to private travel exchange quota (PTEQ) of U.S. $50/- per day per person subject to a maximum of US$2,100 per calendar year for countries other than India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. This quota may be drawn from Authorised Dealers in accordance with instructions contained in subsequent sub-paragraphs in lump sum or in installments over a period of one calendar year. Children below the age of 2 years are entitled to 10% of the PTEQ mentioned above while children over 2 years of age but below 12 years of age are entitled to draw 50% of PTEQ. The PTEQ will be released by the Authorised Dealers for the period of stay abroad as may be declared by the applicant on ‘T-1’ form subject to the prescribed maximum ceiling. The period of stay abroad declared by the applicant should be substantiated by the Authorised Dealers with reference to the number of days for which visa, if any, has been granted and from the dates of outward/inward journeys, if indicated in the tickets. Authorised Dealers should record in the relevant passports, release of PTEQ in full at one time or in instalments with date, month and year of issue. In cases where passport is presented within one year of its issue and it bears the endorsement that the holder thereof has previously travelled abroad on another passport which has been cancelled and returned, the Authorised Dealers should invariably call for the previous passport in order to determine the entitlement of PTEQ. In case the endorsement shows that the previous passport had been retained by the authorities after cancellation, Authorised Dealers may issue foreign exchange on the basis of the written affirmation by the person concerned about the foreign exchange drawn by him since Ist January of the relevant calendar year to date.

(ii) Private Travel Exchange Quota can also be released against one way ticket.

(iii) Banks authorised to deal in foreign exchange will release foreign exchange to the travellers as indicated above, on production of the following: -

(a) Passport.

(b) National Identity Card

(d) T-1 form duly completed.

(e) Visa in case of travel by land route.

Before issuing foreign exchange on the scale indicated in preceding sub-paragraph (i) , Authorised Dealers should satisfy themselves about the genuinness of the request for release of PTEQ and verify with reference to the passports of the travellers that they are entitled to the private travel exchange quota. It should also be verified from the passport that the journey for which the instalment of private travel exchange quota was last drawn, was actually undertaken. Authorised Dealers will ensure that the serial number(s) of the ticket(s) and the name of the airline/shipping company are invariably indicated in the columns provided for the purpose in the Authorised Dealer's Certificate provided in "T-1" form.

(iv) In the case of travel by land route, Authorised Dealers may release private travel exchange quota subject to entitlement on submission of "T-1" form, passport, National Identity Card and visa.

(v) No foreign exchange will be made available by Authorised Dealers for travel to Afghanistan.

(vi) Authorised Dealers will keep photostat copies of the following documents in their record and present the same to the Inspection Teams of the State Bank.

a) Pages 1, 2 and 3 with inside title page and that page of the passport on which endorsement of release of foreign exchange is made

b) First coupon of air/steamer ticket.

c) Visa

(vii) No foreign exchange will be made available by the Authorised Dealers for private travel to countries mentioned in para 6 of this chapter during the period from 10th Shawwal to 10th Zilhaj. However, in the case of persons falling in categories specified in paragraph 6 of this chapter and proceeding to Saudi Arabia exclusively for performing Hajj, Authorised Dealers may release Private Travel Exchange Quota, where admissible, on production of No Objection Certificate issued by the Ministry of Religious Affairs & Minorities Affairs, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad. While releasing foreign exchange to the above travellers, the Authorised Dealers will retain a copy of the above No Objection Certificate and forward the same to the Exchange Policy Department alongwith the relevant return of foreign exchange transactions.

18. Sale of foreign exchange to Pakistan nationals resident in Pakistanfor travel to India and Bangladesh.

(i) Authorised Dealers may release to Pakistan nationals resident in Pakistan as private travel exchange quota (a) US$25/- per head (irrespective of age) on each visit to India and (b) US$100/- per head on each visit to Bangladesh subject to the condition that children upto the age of 12 years will be given US$50/- per head. The foreign exchange may be released on production of passport, National Identity Card in original, "T-1" form and Air/Steamer ticket. The Air/Steamer ticket and passport of the traveller should be endorsed with the amount released as prescribed in paragraph 43 ibid except in case of travel by land route where only the passport should be endorsed. It should also be verified from the passport that the journey, for which private travel exchange quota was last drawn, was actually undertaken.

(ii) Zaireen nominated by the Federal Ministry of Religious Affairs to visit Muslim Shrines in India may be allowed exchange @ US$10 per day per head by the Authorised Dealers on production of a copy of the nomination letter issued by the Federal Ministry of Religious Affairs. Zaireen proceeding to Ajmer for participation in the Urs of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (R. A) may be allowed a further sum of US$25/- per head in addition to US$10/- per day per head to cover travel cost from Delhi to Ajmer and back. The nomination letter should be surrendered alongwith the "T-1" form while reporting the transaction.

19. Private travel by Government Servants, employees of Semi-Government Institutions/autonomous bodies and nationalized/taken over institutions/bank.

The instructions contained in paragraphs 4, 9, 17, 18 and 25 will apply. However, tickets will be issued and foreign exchange released on submission of relevant order of the competent authority sanctioning leave ex-Pakistan, in addition to other prescribed documents. Before releasing PTEQ in such cases Authorised Dealers should ensure that it is clearly indicated in the Leave Order that the traveller has not been allowed to draw leave salary / pension in foreign exchange.

20. Restriction as to re-issue of unspent amount of ‘PTEQ’ surrendered to an Authorised Dealer.

Unspent amount of foreign exchange brought back by a traveller out of the 'PTEQ' drawn by him and surrendered to an Authorised Dealer can be re-issued to him for subsequent travel abroad within the approved limits.

21. Travel by journalists/participation in international conferences/ seminars/ games/ meetings and sports events etc. in private capacity.

Persons proceeding abroad to attend international conferences, symposia, seminars, meetings etc., in their private capacity and journalists travelling abroad to cover journalists events etc., will be allowed foreign exchange by the State Bank at the rate of US$60/- per head per day subject to a maximum of US$1,000/- per head for countries other than India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. In case of persons proceeding for these purposes to India and Bangladesh foreign exchange will be allowed by the State Bank at the rate of US$40 per day subject to a maximum of US$600/-.

22. Sale of foreign exchange for Professional Training.

Authorised Dealers may release foreign exchange on the following scales to persons sponsored by their respective institutions/organizations in the private sector for professional training abroad on submission of the prescribed Application Form (Appendix V-66) by the employing institutions/organizations: