The Government of Pakistan has blocked the passports of more than 3,000 Pakistani nationals currently incarcerated in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on various criminal charges.
According to sources from the Interior Ministry, the breakdown of the prisoners includes 2,470 individuals involved in drug-related offenses, 100 in fraud, deception, and sexual harassment, 216 in murder and robbery cases, 704 convicted of theft, and 375 for illegal residency in the UAE.
This action follows a similar move made two months ago, where Pakistani passports were blocked for citizens imprisoned in Saudi Arabia.
Earlier this year, a senior official from the UAE’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) urged illegal residents in the UAE to take advantage of a visa amnesty program. The initiative, which was initially set to end on October 31, was extended to provide more time for overstayers to regularize their status or return to Pakistan without facing penalties.
GDRFA Director General Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri emphasized the urgency of the situation, urging overstayers to utilize the remaining grace period to resolve their residency violations.
Additionally, the UAE’s Bureau of Immigration has introduced a new requirement for employment visa applicants from Pakistan, mandating a police character certificate in addition to the work visa application. The UAE has also expanded its visit visa ban, now covering 30 cities in Pakistan, up from the previous 24.
