Business visa for Pakistan

QUESTION: I am due to visit Pakistan on business. I was first told that South African passport holders can obtain a 30-day visa on arrival, but I have now heard that I need to obtain a three-month visa in advance. What should I do? - Ken De Villiers

ANSWER: As a business traveller, you are entitled to a 30-day visa on arrival, but you need to provide proof of your status in the form of a letter from the SA Chamber of Commerce or an invitation from a registered Pakistani company or a letter of recommendation from a trade attache at one of the Pakistani missions abroad. However, any one of these documents would get you a three-month multiple entry visa valid for five years when you apply in advance at a Pakistani mission abroad, so this may be the safest and easiest bet.