Police verification now mandatory for Pakistani nationals traveling to UAE

Pakistani citizens traveling to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will now need a police verification report, announced Muhammad Tayyab, Director General of the Bureau of Immigration, on Monday.

This new requirement applies to all travelers, ensuring no one departs without proper clearance, he informed the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis.

Tayyab emphasized that travel agents are instructed to follow the new directive. Senator Shahadat Awan inquired about previous restrictions on Pakistani nationals to the UAE. He urged clarity, asking whether these restrictions had been lifted.

Arshad Mahmood, Secretary of Overseas Pakistanis, addressed concerns about employment visas, noting delays for unskilled workers but confirming that skilled laborers still receive visas.

He assured the committee that discussions with UAE authorities are ongoing to resolve the issue. Mahmood added that the UAE's quota for Pakistani workers had risen from 1.6 million to 1.8 million, with 65,000 Pakistanis traveling to the UAE this year.

Senator Zeeshan Khanzada called for clearer answers regarding visa restrictions, while Senator Nasir Butt criticized the difficulty in obtaining visit visas. Mahmood clarified that visit visas are handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and reiterated the need for better training to meet UAE's labor demands.

Earlier, UAE Consul General Dr. Bakheet Ateeq Al Remeithi denied rumors of a visa ban and stressed the importance of social media activity in visa approvals.