2 days ago
Pakistan, UAE agree to ease visa process for Pakistani citizens
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) agreed to take 'necessary steps' to facilitate visa issuance for Pakistani citizens during a high-level meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his Emirati counterpart in Abu Dhabi, according to an official statement released on Friday.
The development comes amid growing concerns over visa delays and restrictions reportedly faced by Pakistani nationals seeking employment in the UAE. Last month, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar also raised the issue in a meeting with UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed.
The UAE is home to over 1.5 million Pakistanis and remains a major source of remittances.
'It was also mutually agreed to ensure necessary steps to facilitate visas for Pakistani citizens, especially work visas,' the interior ministry said in a statement issued after the meeting. 'The UAE Minister of Interior assured full cooperation in this regard.'
Naqvi said the fraternal relations with the UAE were valued by all Pakistanis. He also highlighted that a large number of them were playing a key role in strengthening the UAE's economy.
'We want Pakistani citizens to be able to come to the UAE easily and easing visa policies will greatly benefit them,' he added.
During his talks with UAE's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Lt. Gen. Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation in multiple areas including security, anti-narcotics, anti-smuggling and preventing illegal immigration.
The discussion also included regional peace and the use of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence to tackle security challenges.
Later, the Pakistani minister visited Abu Dhabi's state-of-the-art police operations room, where he was briefed on crime prevention and public safety systems.
He expressed particular interest in the UAE's advanced police monitoring model and praised the country's use of technology for law enforcement.
