ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UAE, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, has called the Gulf nation’s refusal of visas to Pakistani nationals a “serious and significant” issue, confirming ongoing efforts between both countries to address the matter.
Tirmizi’s comments came in response to reports of a decline in visa approvals for Pakistanis, particularly over the past year, citing concerns regarding applicants’ adherence to local laws, political activities, and alleged involvement in sloganeering.
In an interview with Arab News, the ambassador explained that he had met with UAE officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Human Resource Development to resolve the issue.
“This is a very serious issue and has been raised at the highest level in all interactions,” Tirmizi said. “We are working to resolve it, and hopefully, it will be addressed, but I cannot deny that it is significant.”
The ambassador stated that the refusals were primarily due to issues with document authenticity and the criminal records of some applicants. He noted that the UAE now uses artificial intelligence (AI) to verify documents, and any discrepancies can lead to rejections.
“There was a major issue with the authenticity of education and qualification documents from Pakistan, which must be addressed,” Tirmizi explained, adding that even valid documents could be rejected if the attestation was found to be flawed.
Tirmizi also emphasized that individuals with criminal records should be barred from traveling abroad. “We must improve systems within Pakistan to ensure only genuine travelers with a clean record are allowed to find jobs abroad,” he said.
Discussing employment opportunities, Tirmizi highlighted that the UAE no longer requires unskilled labor as much of its physical infrastructure is already developed. He stressed the importance of training people for high-skill jobs, such as IT professionals, artificial intelligence experts, accountants, doctors, physiotherapists, and laboratory technicians.
He also proposed launching a four-year nursing program recognized in both the UAE and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. “Pakistan has a surplus of labor, and we need to improve the quality of education to ensure these individuals have the necessary technical, cultural, soft skills, and language abilities to compete internationally,” Tirmizi added.
Despite challenges, remittances from the UAE to Pakistan have grown significantly. According to Pakistan’s diplomatic mission, remittances have increased by 53.9% year-on-year, with projections reaching $3.58 billion for FY2025. “That’s a very significant development,” Tirmizi noted, adding that the level of remittances would increase even more with skilled workers.
Tirmizi also highlighted the success of Pakistan’s participation in recent exhibitions and trade events in the UAE, resulting in a 40% increase in IT product and service exports. The UAE has become Pakistan’s third-largest destination for IT exports, following the US and the UK.
Exports of food products, such as rice, sesame seeds, and pink salt, have also seen a 28% increase over the past year.
The UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner after China and the US, with bilateral trade reaching nearly $5.6 billion in FY2023-24. Pakistani exports to the UAE grew by 31% to $873 million in the first half of the current fiscal year (July-December 2024), compared to $670 million during the same period last year.
Tirmizi emphasized that both countries remain committed to resolving the visa issue and expanding economic cooperation, especially in the areas of skilled labor and trade.
