PAP validity for foreigners extended to 15 days
Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Aug 6: In a significant decision for encouraging domestic tourists, the Union Territory of Ladakh has done away with the need for an Inner Line Permit (ILP) for all Indian nationals to visit the protected areas of Ladakh, bordering China and Pakistan.
A notification in this regard was issued today by Home Department of the Administration of UT Ladakh, according to which, the requirement of an Inner Line Permit for the Indian nationals, including domestic tourist and local residents to visit the notified protected areas is completely removed.
Even as the foreigners still need to apply for a permit (Protected Area Permit) to visit these protected areas in Ladakh, the validity of the PAP for foreign tourists has now been extended from seven days to 15 days.
Earlier, it was mandatory for the Indian tourists to apply for an ILP from the district administration to travel to notified protected areas of Ladakh, which include Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake, Tsomoriri Lake and the Aryan villages. Nubra valley covers Diskit, Hunder, Sumer and Panamik.
As per the Statutory Order (S.O.) 30, the Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh has directed omission of sub-paras (i) and (iii) in para 4 in SRO-243 of 1978, dated 27th April 1978, besides substituting 7 days with 15 days in para 1 in SRO 98.
These partial modifications have been ordered by the UT Administration in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 4 of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978, read with S.O 3775 (E), dated 23-10-2020.
Pertinent to mention that Inner Line Permit (ILP) was an official travel document compulsory to visit the Restricted Areas in Ladakh. These permits (ILPs in case of Indian nationals and PAP in case of foreigners), delivered by the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Leh, were valid for a maximum period of seven days for foreigners and three weeks for Indian citizens
The Restricted Areas are located near the Line of Control (LoC), border with Pakistan and the Line of Actual Control (LAC), border with China. There are several check posts on the roads leading to these areas.
For obtaining the Permit, Indian citizens were required to provide a valid identity proof while foreigners need to provide a valid passport with visa or OCI card.
Earlier, Inner Line Permit was required for visiting more number of protected areas, which were made accessible to tourists after May 2014. Even though more areas were easily accessible now, there were still some where Indian nationals needed an Inner Line Permit.
However, the foreign nationals, including Persons of Indian Origin and Non Resident Indians still require a Protected Area Permit (PAP) issued by the Government of India to get access to restricted areas. This rule has remained unchanged except an extension of the Permit validity from seven days to 15 days.
There were certain quirks in the system which led to un-necessary harassment of the tourists visiting Ladakh. Delay in getting the Permit or a last minute change of plans were the common issues.
However, doing away with the Inner Line Permit system is likely to encourage more tourists to visit Ladakh thus adding to economy of the newly carved Union Territory.
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