A Senate committee was informed that all Pakistani travelers to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will now need police verification. This decision follows growing concerns in the UAE over the increasing number of Pakistanis involved in begging, prompting tighter screening of passengers heading to Middle Eastern countries.
The UAE has also started denying visas to Pakistanis who do not have enough money in their accounts to prove they are genuine visitors, according to travel agents. The Director General of the Bureau of Emigration of Overseas Employment, Muhammad Tayyab, informed the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development that no traveler would be allowed to go to the UAE without police verification.
Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, the committee chairman, raised concerns about the ongoing visa issues and asked for updates on when they would be resolved. He pointed out that agents were following all requirements but visas were still not being issued. Other committee members also expressed concerns.
Arshad Mahmood, Secretary of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, clarified that the restrictions did not mean a total ban. He explained that there were no visa restrictions for skilled workers, though the demand for unskilled labor had recently declined. Mahmood also mentioned that about 700,000 workers had already gone abroad this year.
