In a recent meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis, the issue of the ‘unannounced’ visa ban on Pakistanis in the United Arab Emirates was highlighted.
The committee has urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to engage directly with the UAE government to address the matter and seek a resolution.
The committee’s focus on the UAE centered around the current visa restrictions affecting Pakistani nationals. Following a closed-door session, officials recommended urgent actions to lift the visa ban, emphasizing the need to involve Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
They advised him to hold discussions with the UAE authorities to address the situation, suggesting that top-level diplomatic engagement could be crucial for resolving the issue.
The matter has been escalated to the Federal Cabinet for further action, with a specific directive to prioritize lifting the visa ban. The committee underscored the importance of taking immediate and effective measures to ease the difficulties faced by Pakistanis abroad, particularly those seeking employment opportunities in the UAE.
The meeting, chaired by Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, examined various challenges faced by Pakistani citizens residing in the UAE and Iraq. According to officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 Pakistanis are living in Iraq illegally, while only about 8,000 are legally employed. Concerns were raised about the conditions faced by these workers, including reports of low wages, confiscation of passports, and incidents of mistreatment.
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UAE will show shehbaz the middle finger.
He is willing to kiss it.