DNA
ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office has dismissed media reports and rumors regarding the United Arab Emirates’ visa policy for Pakistanis, stating that the facts are contrary to speculation.
The newly-appointed spokesperson Ambassador Sajjad Haider Khan made this clarification during his weekly press briefing on Thursday. He said the number of visas issued to Pakistanis by the UAE is nearly seven times higher than the number of individuals repatriated from the country.
Over the past five years, an average of 7,000 to 8,000 Pakistanis have been sent back annually for various reasons, including illegal residency, overstaying visas after three months, involvement in fights, or minor criminal activities.
In contrast, approximately 40,000 to 50,000 Pakistanis have been granted visas each year during the same period, securing employment opportunities in the UAE.
The spokesperson emphasized that these figures highlight the strong demand for Pakistani workers in the UAE and reaffirm the positive trajectory of bilateral relations.
