Pak series: special visa camp to be set up at Amritsar

15 (NNN): Local authorities here would help the Pakistan High Commission set up a temporary visa camp in this historic city for cricket fans from March 17-20, as directed by the External Affairs Ministry, a top official said on Monday.

However, in the absence of a ticket counter, the camp may not serve any purpose, Deputy Commissioner Raminder Singh said.

"As per the information received from the MEA that the officials of Pakistan High Commission would set up special visa camp in Amritsar from March 17 to 20, but no information related to sale of tickets for the cricket match has been passed on from any corner so far," he added.

Singh said as per the information available with the district headquarters, the Pakistan High Commission would issue only 3,000 visas.

The DC said the temporary special visa camp would be set up at Chehertha, five kilometers off Amritsar, so that the "cricket enthusiasts reach border in time, since Indo-Pak border is closed after 4.00 pm daily and after that no one, except diplomats, is allowed to cross it".

Meanwhile, besides Wagah land route there would be two special international trains from Attari railway station pressed into service on March 20 to carry the cricket lover to Lahore to enable them to witness the two one-day matches on March 21 and 24 at Lahore.