Imphal (Manipur), Oct. 14: The Protected Area Permit (PAP) system, which prohibits foreign nationals from visiting some north eastern states, including Manipur, without obtaining due permit from the Ministry of Home Affairs, has been relaxed for Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland for another five more years.
The MHA has announced that relaxation has been made on ‘Protected Area Regime’ under Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958 for the states with effect from the December 13, 2017 till December 31, 2022.
According to a source, a circular issued by the MHA has informed the decision to chief secretaries of Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram.
The MHA has also stated that if there is any kind of obstruction in carrying out the rules and regulations, the Central Government will have a liberty on the revision of the relaxation.
It also said that citizens of Afghanistan, China and Pakistan will have to take an approval from the MHA in order to get access to Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram.
It said violators will be punished under Foreigners Act. The restriction was lifted on January 1, 2014 by the MHA for a period of two years. The three states were put outside the ambit of the PAP regime for the first time on January 1, 2013 for a period of one year.
However, the relaxation of the PAP regime is not applicable to citizens of Afghanistan, China and Pakistan. (ANI)
