Why has UAE banned visas for Pakistanis?
The United Arab Emirates (UAE’s) decision to ban visas for Pakistani nationals had sparked outage in Pakistan but real reasons behind the ban have been revealed.
Misconduct of Pakistani Nationals in UAE
According to official documents shared by the UAE government with the Pakistani embassy, the ban was proposed in a cabinet meeting after reviewing complaints regarding the conduct of some Pakistani citizens.
The documents highlighted that Pakistani nationals have reportedly been involved in activities deemed inappropriate by the UAE, including protests, criticism of UAE government policies on social media, and misuse of online platforms.
It was discussed that such activities were creating a negative image of the UAE.
Moreover, concerns were raised over allegations of forgery in identity documents, including altered identity cards and passports, by certain Pakistani individuals.
Involvement in criminal activities
The document also highlighted involvement in criminal activities such as theft, fraud, begging, prostitution, and drug-related offences, which were reportedly more prevalent among Pakistani citizens compared to individuals from other nationalities.
Local authorities conveyed these concerns to Pakistan’s ambassador, explaining that the decision to impose the visa restrictions was reached after deliberations at the highest levels of UAE’s government.
The Pakistani embassy in the UAE has reportedly forwarded these complaints to Islamabad in the form of an official report, urging immediate attention to address the highlighted issues.
The development has sparked debate among the Pakistani community in the UAE, many of whom are law-abiding residents contributing positively to the local economy.
