ISLAMABAD: Pakistani nationals’ hopes to travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for job and business opportunities were crushed when the Gulf nation recently imposed a visa ban.
Although authorities in the UAE already cited concerns related to social media activities and criminal incidents as the reason behind the ban, recent official documents revealed additional reasons why the ban was imposed.
According to the documents shared by the Emirati government with the Pakistani embassy, the ban was proposed in a cabinet meeting following complaints about the conduct of some Pakistani citizens.
The documents indicated that certain nationals have engaged in protests, criticised the UAE government policies online, and misused digital platforms.
These actions have been perceived as damaging to the UAE’s reputation, prompting the country’s government to take action.
Additionally, concerns were raised over allegations of forgery in identity documents, such as altered identity cards and passports, by certain Pakistani individuals.
The documents also highlighted involvement in criminal activities — including theft, fraud, begging, and drug-related offences — which were reportedly more prevalent among Pakistani nationals compared to individuals from other countries.
Local authorities conveyed these concerns to Pakistan’s ambassador, emphasising that the decision to impose the visa restrictions was made after deliberations at the highest levels of the UAE 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 discussions among the Pakistani community in the UAE, many of whom are law-abiding residents contributing positively to the local economy.
Meanwhile, calls for constructive dialogue and cooperative measures to resolve the matter are growing, as the visa ban impacts thousands of families and businesses that depend on Pakistani workers in the UAE.
