Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have addressed the pressing matter of visa issuance for Pakistani nationals during high-level diplomatic discussions.
UAE Ambassador Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Al Zaabi met with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar at the Foreign Office on Wednesday. According to a statement from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the meeting focused on enhancing cooperation between the two nations.
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The discussions included visa-related concerns, with Ambassador Al Zaabi providing updates on efforts to streamline the visa process for Pakistani citizens. He said that steps are being taken to improve processing times by increasing human resources, which aim to address delays and expedite approvals.
The issue of UAE visas has been a prominent topic recently, as reports of delays and denials for Pakistani applicants have circulated. Pakistani authorities, however, have consistently dismissed claims of any official ban or fresh restrictions. MOFA has reiterated that granting visas is the sovereign right of the issuing country.
The statement did not clarify if concerns over the reported presence of thousands of Pakistanis in UAE prisons were raised during the meeting. In prior briefings, MOFA denied confirming figures related to Pakistanis detained in the UAE.