Pakistan has announced a new visa policy to boost its tourism sector, making the application process easier in a bid to attract more visitors.

According to the new system, travelers from UK, Malaysia, China, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates can now visit the country visa-free.

More than 50 nationalities can get their visa immediately on arrival; a list that is likely to be expanded.

Some parts of the country, such as Kashmir, Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan, are now no longer subject to restrictions of movements, knowing that tourists were required to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) before visiting some areas.

In 2018, the British Backpacking Society ranked Pakistan as the top destination for backpackers, saying it is “home to some of the world’s friendliest and most hospitable people, and offers some of the world’s most dramatic mountain scenery.”