The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has tightened its requirements for issuing work visas to Pakistani nationals, prompting the Pakistani government to mandate police character certificates for applicants seeking employment in the Gulf nation.
Adnan Paracha, Vice Chairman of the Pakistan Overseas Employment Promoters Association, told The Express Tribune that the decision followed complaints from UAE authorities regarding incidents of Pakistanis engaging in begging and other inappropriate activities in the UAE.
“Anyone wishing to work in the UAE must now obtain a police character certificate,” Paracha explained. “This requirement has become mandatory for securing a UAE work visa. As a brotherly and friendly nation, it is our duty to comply with UAE regulations.”
Paracha further noted that the UAE had previously banned visit visas for individuals from 24 Pakistani cities, and this restriction has now been extended to 30 cities. Additionally, the issuance of work visas has reportedly been suspended for the past year.
The UAE is Pakistan’s second-largest source of remittances, following Saudi Arabia. Paracha urged the Pakistani government to engage in diplomatic efforts to address the work visa restrictions, emphasizing the need to secure employment opportunities for Pakistani workers in the UAE.
