The Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis held a session on Monday to discuss UAE visa restrictions and the welfare of Pakistanis abroad. The meeting addressed concerns over declining visa approvals and reduced overseas employment opportunities for Pakistanis.
Senator Zeeshan Khanzada stressed the urgency of resolving visa issues and highlighted public frustration over delays. He urged greater transparency in visa processing and regular updates to applicants to restore trust and clarity.
Dr. Arshad Mahmood, Secretary of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, clarified that skilled labor migration to Dubai remained unaffected. He noted a decline in demand for unskilled labor and emphasized the need to focus on skilled workforce migration.
The committee proposed measures to support overseas Pakistanis, including dedicated airport immigration counters and assistance for those facing passport confiscations. These steps aim to address challenges faced by workers abroad.
The UAE ambassador recently assured Deputy PM Ishaq Dar of efforts to streamline visas for Pakistanis. The Foreign Office reaffirmed there is no official visa ban and stressed ongoing discussions to resolve related issues.
