The United Arab Emirates (Water) have confirmed that there is no ban on official visa of Pakistani nationals, the Pakistani Foreign Affairs (MOFA) informed the National Assembly in a letter, local media reported on Thursday.
Responding to a question from the legislator Dr Nafisa Shah, the ministry said that the water embassy in Islamabad had clarified the issue. According to the Embassy, the Federal Water Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security has introduced a new five -year visa policy with additional requirements.
Under the revised policy, candidates must provide round-trip tickets, hotel reservations, proof of property (if applicable) and a deposit of 3,000 Emirati dirhams (AED).
The ministry noted that although there is no official ban, several factors have contributed to an increased examination of Pakistani candidates.
These include cases of people submitting false diplomas, fraudulent employment contracts and Visa Surestice incidents. Some Pakistani nationals have also been involved in political and criminal activities.
In addition, the water authorities have expressed concerns about the misuse of social media by certain members of the Pakistani community.
The Pakistan Embassy in Abu Dhabi is committed to water officials at ministerial and under-secretary levels to resolve these questions. High officials from the MOFA Middle East Division also raised the issue with the Water Embassy in Islamabad.
To facilitate the treatment of more fluid visas, the ministry shared letters of recommendation with the water embassy in Islamabad. Emirati authorities have reiterated that there is no official restriction on Pakistani candidates.
