UAE not issuing visas to Pakistanis, Senate committee told

ISLAMABAD: The United Arab Emirates has stopped issuing visit and work visas to Pakistani citizens, and is currently granting visas only to holders of diplomatic and blue passports, officials of the Ministry of Interior informed the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights on Thursday.

Additional Interior Secretary Salman Chaudhry told the committee that Pakistan had narrowly avoided a complete passport ban by both the UAE and Saudi Arabia, warning that if such a ban were imposed, it would be extremely difficult to get it lifted.

He revealed that a large number of Pakistanis were deported from Saudi Arabia in recent months due to legal and immigration violations. He also admitted that Afghan nationals had managed to obtain Pakistani passports through corrupt elements within the system.

“We also share responsibility in this,” Chaudhry said, acknowledging corruption in passport issuance. He added that the Interior Ministry has now digitally verified the data of between 180 million and 200 million citizens in an effort to prevent misuse of Pakistani passports.

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The official further told the committee that Pakistanis imprisoned abroad usually face local laws and it is not possible for the government to provide legal assistance to everyone. He said most detained Pakistanis abroad were involved in minor offences.

Briefing the committee on human trafficking, Chaudhry said organised networks were operating from Gujarat, Wazirabad, Sheikhupura and Lahore. These groups charge up to Rs5 million per person by luring young people with false promises of sending them to Europe through illegal routes.

He also stated that human traffickers are active in Dubai and other Middle Eastern countries, and that hundreds of Pakistanis risk their lives every year while migrating through unlawful channels, with many losing their lives during dangerous journeys.