The Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistan and Human Resources Development was informed on Monday that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had not imposed a “complete denial” on issuing visas to Pakistani citizens, despite concerns persistent about visa restrictions.
The comments came during a committee session chaired by Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, where the UAE’s unofficial restrictions on work visas were discussed.
According to a press release from the Senate, the Secretary of the Ministry of Pakistan Overseas Human Resources Development (OPHRD) clarified that while there had been a decline in the demand for unskilled labour, there were no restrictions on skilled workers .
“As far as Dubai is concerned, there are no restrictions,” the secretary emphasized, noting that each country has its own set of objectives when it comes to labor demand. The secretary also highlighted that approximately 700,000 workers had emigrated abroad this year, highlighting the need to focus on sending more skilled workers.
However, Senator Khanzada expressed concern about the current issue, stating that many people were asking when the visa restrictions would be resolved. “Agents claim that they meet all requirements when applying for visas, but visas are still not issued,” he said.
The committee called for further action and Khanzada urged authorities to provide updates on compliance and timelines for informing the public. He also suggested inviting Overseas Employment Promoters (OEP) to future meetings to ensure proper checks and balances.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had previously ruled out the idea of a complete visa ban, with spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch clarifying that the granting of visas is a sovereign decision of the UAE.
UAE Consul General in Karachi Dr Bakheet Ateeq Al Rumaithi also rejected the impression of a visa ban and emphasized that Pakistan remains a priority for the UAE in business and investment.
While improvements have been noted, Pakistani nationals still face significant challenges in the UAE visa process, a situation that remains a key point of contention between the two governments.
