Pakistan and Croatia have agreed to fast-track the establishment of a Croatian visa processing facility in Islamabad, a move that will enable Pakistani citizens to apply for Croatian visas without traveling to a third country.
The announcement was made by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar during a joint press conference with Croatia’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Dr. Gordan Grlić Radman, following bilateral talks in Islamabad.
Dar described the planned visa facility as a significant step that will make the visa application process more convenient for Pakistani travelers. He also revealed that Pakistan has begun preparations to seek re-entry into the European Union’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) under the new framework scheduled to take effect in January 2027.
During the talks, both countries agreed to strengthen cooperation by expanding legal pathways for skilled Pakistani workers while enhancing joint efforts to curb human smuggling and irregular migration.
The two sides also reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism, the principles of the United Nations Charter, and the peaceful resolution of international disputes. According to Dar, 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, where both leaders agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, information technology, agriculture, tourism, connectivity, and skilled workforce development.
The proposed visa processing facility is expected to strengthen people-to-people ties and further enhance diplomatic and economic relations between Pakistan and Croatia.
