Muhammad Tayyab, the Director General of the Bureau of Immigration, announced that Pakistani travelers to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) must now present a police verification report.
At the meeting, Tayyab informed that travel agents facilitating trips to the UAE must comply with this new directive. He also mentioned that the UAE had previously set restrictions on Pakistani nationals, a concern raised by Senator Shahadat Awan during the discussion. Awan sought official clarification on whether these restrictions were still effective.
Addressing concerns about employment visas, Secretary of Overseas Pakistanis Arshad Mahmood explained that although unskilled workers have experienced delays, skilled labourers continue to secure UAE visas. “We are actively dialoguing with UAE authorities to address these issues,” Mahmood stated, noting that efforts are being made to increase the quota of Pakistani workers in the UAE from 1.6 million to 1.8 million. This year, 65,000 Pakistanis have travelled to the UAE, he added.
Read: New UAE Employment Visa Requirement: Police Character Certificate
Mahmood refuted claims of a total ban on Pakistani nationals, highlighting that many still secure jobs in the UAE, contributing to foreign remittances. He noted a sharp decline in the need for unskilled labor and underscored the necessity for Pakistani workers to improve their skills to align with UAE labor standards.
Senator Zeeshan Khanzada expressed his frustration over the ambiguous visa situation, demanding a definitive answer on whether there is an official ban. He also called for improved coordination to align Pakistani manpower with UAE’s labour market needs.
Meanwhile, Senator Nasir Butt labelled it “embarrassing” that Pakistanis face challenges obtaining visit visas. Mahmood clarified that visit visa issues fall under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while his ministry focuses on employment visas.
Concerning the UAE visa policy, last month, UAE Consul General Dr. Bakheet Ateeq Al Remeithi clarified that there is no visa ban on Pakistani nationals. He encouraged those in need of visas to visit the UAE visa center directly.
