The Pakistan ambassador to the EAU, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, has described the negative of visas of the Gulf country to Pakistani citizens as a “serious and significant” issue, confirming that both countries are working to address it.
Tirmizi’s comments occurred in response to the reports of the decrease in visa approval for Pakistani, particularly during the past year, citing concerns about the failure of applicants to adhere to local laws, political activities and an alleged participation in slogaering.
In an interview with Arab News, the Ambassador declared that he had met with the EAU officials of the Foreign Ministries and the development of human resources to resolve the matter.
“This is a very serious problem and has been raised to the highest level in all interactions,” Tirmizi said. “We are working to solve the problem and we hope they will be solved, but the problem is quite significant and I cannot deny that.”
Tirmizi explained that Visa negatives were mainly due to the authenticity of the document and the criminal records of some applicants. He stressed that EAU are now using artificial intelligence (AI) to verify documents, and any discrepancy could lead to rejection.
“There was an important problem about the authenticity of Pakistan education and qualification documents that must be addressed,” he said, added that even genuine documents could be rejected if it was discovered that the certification was defective.
Tirmizi also emphasized that people with a criminal record should be prohibited from traveling abroad.
“We have to improve the systems within the country to ensure that only genuine travelers, genuine workers with a clean history are allowed to travel outside and find work outside the country,” he said.
On the issue of employment opportunities, Tirmizi explained that the EAU no longer required unqualified labor, since much of their physical infrastructure had already developed.
“We have to train people now for high -qualification work, as well -trained IT experts, people trained in artificial intelligence, people trained in accounting, people who have skills, doctors, physiotherapists and laboratory technicians,” he, “he “, He,” he, “he,” he, “he,” he, “he.”
In addition, he proposed the launch of a four -year nursing program, which would be recognized both in the EAU and in the Gulf Cooperation Council (CCG).
“Pakistan has a work surplus, and we have to improve the quality of education within Pakistan and make sure that these people have the technical, cultural, soft and linguistic skills necessary to compete in the international market,” Tirmizi added.
Despite the challenges, Pakistan’s remittances of the EAU have experienced significant growth. According to the figures of the diplomatic mission of Pakistan, remittances have increased by 53.9% year -on -year, with projections of $ 3.58 billion for the fiscal year2025.
“That is a very significant development,” Tirmizi said. “If you have high rating workers, the level of remittances to Pakistan will increase the collector.”
Tirmizi also highlighted the success of Pakistan’s participation in recent exhibitions and commercial events in the EAU, which has led to a 40% increase in exports of IT products and services. The EAU have become the third largest destination for TI exports in Pakistan, after the United States and the United Kingdom.
Exports of food products, such as rice, sesame seeds and pink salt, have also increased by 28% during the past year.
The EAU is the third largest commercial partner in Pakistan after China and the United States, with a total bilateral trade that reaches almost $ 5.6 billion in fiscal year 2023-24. Pakistani exports to the EAU increased by 31% to $ 873 million in the first half of the current fiscal year (July-December 2024), compared to $ 670 million during the same period last year.
Tirmizi emphasized that both countries were committed to solving the visa problem and expanding their economic cooperation, particularly in the qualified work and trade areas.
