Dubai (Pakistan News Online) Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, Pakistan’s ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), talked about not issuing visas to Pakistanis, He said that he clearly recognizes that some progress has been made since the completion of the UAE amnesty program on October 31, but it is not enough.
According to details, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, Ambassador of Pakistan to the UAE, recently addressed GITEX GLOBAL 2024 in Dubai, a major event attended by citizens of more than 180 countries but many Pakistani citizens missed participation in the event due to visa issues.
Generally, Pakistanis get visit visas easily, but recently several startup owners, IT professionals and tourists have had their visa applications rejected. This development has created significant challenges for Pakistanis wishing to visit Dubai or UAE, highlighting changes in visa policies that have made it difficult for many to attend international events and do business in the region.
According to Daily Pakistan, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi said that some relief has been offered under the amnesty program issued by the UAE government by temporarily waiving fines for Pakistani nationals and allowing them to leave the country without facing re-entry restrictions.
The situation remains challenging, with concerns expressed that Pakistanis are facing an unprecedented level of visa rejection. This is particularly surprising as Pakistan’s passport is considered to be the weakest in the world.
Pakistani ambassador to the UAE, believes that blue-collar workers have played an important role in modernizing the UAE, but the UAE has now crossed a new level of development and the focus is on highly skilled workers, and the focus has shifted to exporting highly skilled professionals. This means that Pakistan should prioritize sending experts in various fields to the UAE rather than just unskilled labour.
The ambassador emphasized that the UAE now demands specialized knowledge and expertise, which is evident from the event showcased at events such as GITEX GLOBAL 2024 in Dubai.
Mr. Tirmizi, says that the current visa issues are the biggest challenge for him at the moment. He said that Pakistan needs to improve its international reputation.
Some travel agents who act as middlemen for visa issuance also said that men who are traveling alone or without their families and are under 45 years of age, there is possibility for them to Facing rejection.
Despite visa rejections and expiring jobseeker visas, the UAE has offered immunity from fines and allowed people to leave without facing re-entry bans until October 31.
But due to the current situation, many Pakistanis have faced visa rejection. The number of Pakistani workers registered in the UAE has decreased significantly. There were about 230,000 registered workers in 2023, but this year the number has dropped to less than 60,000.
People are asking why it is so difficult to get UAE work visa? Pakistani Ambassador Tirmizi explained that in the past, Pakistanis often entered the UAE on tourist visas and then went on work visas, but the UAE job market is changing. Now they need highly skilled workers (like professionals and experts) instead of manual laborers (like construction workers).
Pakistani Ambassador is enthusiastic about Pakistan’s IT sector, emphasizing the focus on boosting the economy and exporting IT services. He suggested that there is great potential in the tech industry in Pakistan and is hosting GITEX, a premier tech event in the country.
This initiative will put Pakistan on the global technology map and attract investment, talent and innovation. By exporting IT services, Pakistan can take advantage of its skilled workforce and favorable business environment, reports added.