There is a threat of entry into the Muslim country from which Pakistanis earn their livelihood.

The number of Pakistani beggars is continuously increasing in the Middle East countries. This is the reason why a new step has been taken for Pakistani passengers going to UAE. Actually, these passengers will first undergo police verification, after which they will be allowed to go to UAE. This information has been given by the Senate.

The Senate panel has said that all Pakistani travelers traveling to the UAE will have to undergo police checks and verification. This development comes amid growing discontent over the increasing number of Pakistanis begging in Middle East countries, due to which the authorities have started taking action.

According to travel agents, UAE authorities have also denied visas to Pakistanis who did not have sufficient funds in their accounts to prove they were genuine visitors. During a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development regarding the UAE's informal visa restrictions, particularly employment visas, Director General of Overseas Employment Bureau Muhammad Tayyab informed the panel. "Now, no one will be allowed to travel to the UAE without police verification," he said.

When will the solution come out?

A post on the Senate's Facebook page said that the committee's chairman, Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, stressed the need for more action as people were questioning when the visa-related issues would be resolved. He also said that agents claim to have fulfilled all the requirements while applying for visas, yet the visas are not being issued. Seeking clarity on the problem, the committee's chairman said that people are looking for opportunities in other countries, with the UAE remaining a major labor market.

Khanzada said there is still a lot of pressure and many challenges for the affected people. He suggested provision of updates on compliance and timelines for resolving issues so that the public is better informed. The statement said other members of the committee have also expressed their reservations about the update on visa restrictions. Secretary of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (OPHRD) Arshad Mahmood clarified that the restrictions do not mean a blanket ban.

Why did Gulf countries impose a ban on issuing visas?

At the same time, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and several other Gulf countries have imposed an indefinite ban on issuing visas to people from at least 30 different cities of Pakistan. This has been done after a worrying increase in the number of cases in which Pakistani citizens have been found begging abroad or involved in smuggling, drug trafficking, human trafficking and other criminal offenses. Gulf countries and cities, especially Dubai and Abu Dhabi, remain the most preferred destination for millions of Pakistani travelers and job seekers.