UAE Eases Visa Restrictions for Pakistanis
Visa restrictions for Pakistanis traveling to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have begun to ease, with 402,000 Pakistanis traveling to the Gulf country in the last four months, the Secretary Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis informed the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis on Thursday.
The official stated that the Pakistani embassy is working to further address visa concerns. However, no formal meeting has yet taken place between the embassy and the UAE’s relevant ministry regarding the issue.
Read More: Top Visa-Free Destinations for Travelers Holding a US Visa
Government Profiling Overseas Pakistanis
The committee was informed that the government is currently profiling 10 million overseas Pakistanis to enhance support and policy measures for expatriates.
The Secretary of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis also stated that discussions with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) are ongoing regarding taxes on mobile phones brought from abroad.
EOBI and Overseas Employment Updates
- 10 million private-sector employees are now registered with the Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI).
- Pakistan has prisoner transfer agreements only with Malaysia and Indonesia.
- In terms of overseas employment, the number of Pakistanis registered for jobs in South Korea includes:
- 3,906 from Lahore
- 702 from Peshawar
- 358 from Islamabad
- 108 from Karachi
- 13 from Quetta
Community Welfare and Consular Support
Currently, 24 community welfare attachés are stationed in 19 countries to provide consular assistance and support for Pakistani expatriates.
