Pakistani citizens traveling to Dubai will now need a police verification certificate, reported the Director General of the Bureau of Immigration Muhammad Tayyab on Monday.
This condition applies to all travel cases. This will ensure that no passenger flies to the Gulf country without clearance, the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis was informed on Monday.
Speaking at the meeting, the top official emphasized that all agents facilitating travel to the UAE have been instructed to adhere to the new requirement. The Emirate had previously placed a restriction on Pakistani nationals.
The senator questioned whether these restrictions had been lifted or if they were still in place. “If the restrictions have been removed, let us know officially,” Awan urged, seeking clarity on the matter.
Secretary of Overseas Pakistanis Arshad Mahmood had raised concerns regarding the employment visas. He clarified that while skilled laborers continue to get visas the unskilled visas are facing delays.
“We have engaged in open dialogue with UAE authorities to address these issues,” Mahmood said.
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He asserted that efforts are underway to increase the number of Pakistanis working in the UAE. Mahmood informed that the UAE quota of Pakistanis workers stood at 1.6 million but has now risen to 1.8 million. Â “This year alone, 65,000 Pakistanis have travelled to the UAE,” he said further.
Mahmood refuted claims of an outright ban on Pakistani nationals, noting that “our people are still securing employment in the UAE, contributing to foreign remittances.”
Senator Zeeshan Khanzada expressed frustration over the confusion surrounding visa restrictions, saying: “We need a clear answer: Is there an official ban or not?” He also called for better coordination to understand the UAE’s labor demands and sectors requiring manpower.
“We must know which industries are hiring and where our workers are employed,” he said. Officials stressed the need to train the Pakistani workers to improve their chances of securing employment in UAE.