Pakistani travellers to UAE now need police verification, Senate body reveals
Emirates mandates police verification for Pakistani travelers as visa challenges grow for unskilled workers
UAE Tightens Visa Rules for Pakistanis Amid Rising Concerns
The growing number of Pakistanis involved in begging has sparked growing discontent among Middle Eastern states, prompting authorities to take steps to vigilantly check travelers traveling to those destinations.
According to travel agents, UAE authorities have begun aggressively cutting visas for Pakistanis who do not have enough money to prove they are “genuine visitors.”
Speaking at a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Director General of the Bureau of Overseas Employment Muhammad Tayyab told the committee: “Now, without police verification, they will be allowed.”
In a post on the Senate’s Facebook page, the committee chairman, Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, stressed the need for more action as people were questioning when the visa-related issues would be resolved.
He also noted that despite agents claiming to meet all requirements when applying for visas, visas were yet to be issued. Seeking clarity on the underlying issue, the committee chairman pointed out that the UAE remains a key labour market, while people are increasingly seeking opportunities in other countries.
Khanzada said there were still significant pressures and challenges for those affected, and suggested providing updates on compliance and a timeline for resolving the issues.
The statement said other committee members also objected to the update on visa restrictions.
Arshad Mahmood, Secretary, Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (OPHRD), clarified that the restrictions did not mean a complete ban.
He explained that there were no restrictions as far as Dubai was concerned and that each country had its own objectives.
The secretary stressed that while the demand for unskilled workers has decreased recently, there are no restrictions for skilled workers.
He noted the need to focus on sending highly skilled workers abroad, with about 700,000 workers already going abroad this year.
