Pakistani nationals travelling to the United Arab Emirates will be required a police verification report now.
This was stated by Director General of the Bureau of Immigration Muhammad Tayyab here on Monday.
He said that this directive will apply to all travel cases, ensuring that no individual departs for the gulf country without proper clearance.
Tayyab told this to the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis.
He emphasised that all agents facilitating travel to the UAE have been directed to follow the new requirement.
The official highlighted that the UAE had previously imposed restrictions on Pakistani citizens, a matter that was also raised by Senator Shahadat Awan.
Senator Awan had questioned whether these restrictions had been lifted or if they were still in place. “If the ban has been lifted, let us know officially,” he urged, seeking clarity on the matter.
Overseas Pakistanis Secretary Arshad Mahmood addressed concerns about employment visas and clarified that while unskilled workers have faced delays, skilled labourers continue to receive UAE visas.
“We have engaged in open dialogue with UAE authorities to address these issues,” he further said.
Mahmood added efforts are being made to increase the number of Pakistanis working in the UAE, highlighting that the UAE quota for Pakistani workers once stood at 1.6 million but has now risen to 1.8 million.
He said that during 2024 alone, 65,000 Pakistanis have travelled to the UAE.
