The Bureau of Emigration has introduced a new requirement for obtaining employment visas for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), making it mandatory for applicants to submit a police character certificate.
Adnan Paracha, Vice Chairman of the Pakistan Overseas Employment Promoters Association (POEPA), explained that this step is now a prerequisite for individuals seeking work opportunities in the UAE. He welcomed the decision, stating that it addresses concerns raised by the UAE government, as reported by Express News.
Paracha revealed that complaints had been received about some Pakistanis engaging in begging and other illegal activities in the UAE. He emphasized the importance of adhering to UAE laws, given the close and friendly ties between the two countries.
The UAE has already imposed an ‘unannounced’ visit visa ban on 24 cities in Pakistan, now extended to 30 cities. Additionally, Pakistanis have faced significant challenges obtaining work visas over the past year, resulting in over 100,000 individuals being unable to secure employment in the UAE during that time.
Highlighting the UAE’s importance as the second-largest source of remittances for Pakistan after Saudi Arabia, Paracha urged the federal government to intensify diplomatic efforts to resolve work visa-related issues.
In a related development, Pakistan has added 4,300 names to its Exit Control List (ECL) to curb the rising number of Pakistani beggars in Saudi Arabia. The measure follows a meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Interior Minister. The discussion, attended by Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Saeed Ahmed Al-Maliki, focused on enhancing bilateral relations, including paramilitary exchanges and joint training programs.