Croatia to open visa processing facility in Islamabad

Pakistan and Croatia have agreed to accelerate efforts to establish a Croatian visa processing facility in Islamabad, allowing Pakistani applicants to apply for Croatian visas without travelling to a third country.

The announcement was made by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar during a joint press conference with Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Dr Gordan Grlić Radman, following bilateral talks in Islamabad.

Dar said both countries are working to expedite the opening of the visa processing facility, describing it as a major relief for Pakistani travellers. He added that the facility would make the visa application process easier and more convenient.

The deputy prime minister also said Pakistan has begun preparations to seek re-entry into the European Union’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) under the new framework, which is scheduled to take effect in January 2027.

During the talks, both countries also agreed to expand legal employment opportunities for skilled Pakistani workers while strengthening cooperation to combat human smuggling and irregular migration.

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Dar said Pakistan and Croatia reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism, the United Nations Charter, and the peaceful resolution of disputes. He added that Croatia appreciated Pakistan’s constructive role at the United Nations Security Council.

Separately, Croatian Foreign Minister Dr Gordan Grlić Radman called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. During the meeting, both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in trade, investment, information technology, agriculture, tourism, connectivity, and skilled manpower to further strengthen bilateral relations.

Both countries expressed confidence that closer cooperation across multiple sectors would help expand economic ties and create new opportunities for their people.