ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has acknowledged growing visa challenges faced by Pakistanis seeking to travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other Gulf countries, attributing the restrictions partly to concerns raised by host governments over crime and trafficking networks involving some Pakistani nationals.
Dar said the government was actively engaging with Gulf authorities to address the issue.
“We are not sleeping. This issue has been raised many times,” he stated, noting that the UAE had shared internal assessments indicating that, among several nationalities involved in criminal activity within the country, Pakistanis were “unfortunately” among the highest in number.
The situation had escalated to such an extent at certain points that visa requests for even Pakistani officials and ministers had been denied. He described the development as deeply concerning but stressed that diplomatic efforts were under way to normalize the process.
Furthermore, Dar confirmed that he had forwarded reports of mass offloading of passengers at Pakistani airports to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. The offloading incidents have drawn public criticism, with passengers frequently reporting sudden travel denials despite valid documentation.
He further pointed to the issue of organized begging rackets operating in various Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, which he said had contributed to negative perceptions.
“Pakistanis are caught the most in beggary there, unfortunately,” he stated, focusing on that such cases undermine the country’s reputation and affect law-abiding citizens who travel for legitimate purposes.
Meanwhile, the foreign minister underlined that meaningful improvement in visa facilitation would depend on Pakistan’s ability to curb criminal networks and prevent the exploitation of vulnerable citizens by trafficking rings.
He called for stricter monitoring, increased coordination between federal agencies, and stronger action against those involved in illegal activities abroad.
Dar confirmed the government’s commitment to addressing the root causes of the problem, stating that the issues would not be resolved until the underlying challenges were “tackled and eliminated.”
He added that the Foreign Office, in collaboration with the Interior Ministry, would continue discussions with Gulf governments to restore confidence and secure smoother travel arrangements for Pakistani nationals.
