Pakistani interior minister to discuss ‘visa rejections' with UAE counterpart this week
The statement comes amid ongoing reports of a sharp decline in UAE visa approvals for Pakistanis. Local media outlets have attributed the rejections to an alleged lack of respect for local laws and customs by Pakistani expats. The issue has also been linked to concerns over documentation and criminal record checks.
'You are right, this [UAE visa rejection] has become an issue,' Naqvi said during a news conference in Karachi when asked about the recurring problem of visa rejections.
'I am meeting the interior minister of the UAE regarding this two days from now [July 9] and I have a lot of hope that we will find a solution to this.'
He acknowledged the matter was affecting a wide segment of Pakistanis, particularly those with business ties to the UAE.
In February, Pakistan's ambassador to the UAE, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, described the refusal of visas to Pakistani nationals as a 'serious and significant' issue that authorities in both countries were working to resolve. He pointed to several contributing factors, including discrepancies in visa documents and criminal records of some applicants.
Naqvi also referenced Kuwait's decision in May to lift a 19-year-old visa ban on Pakistani citizens, framing it as part of broader efforts by the current government to enhance Pakistan's global mobility and the standing of its passport.
'In the next two years, you will see this green passport that you have at a better position in the ranking,' he said.
The UAE is Pakistan's third-largest trading partner after China and the United States, and is considered a critical market due to its geographic proximity and logistical advantages. The Gulf state is also Pakistan's second-largest source of foreign remittances, after Saudi Arabia, with over 1.8 million Pakistani expatriates living and working there.
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