UAE: Pakistan's ban on deportees will ease travel, visa issues for genuine visitors
Pakistani nationals in the UAE have welcomed their government's recent move to cancel the passports of deported nationals, saying it will help protect the country's reputation and ease the visa process for genuine travellers.
The new policy applies to individuals deported from the UAE, Gulf countries, Europe, the US, and other regions. Upon returning to Pakistan, these deportees will have their passports cancelled, be placed on a five-year travel ban, and face legal action through a First Information Report (FIR), as announced earlier this week.
Khaleej Times spoke to several Pakistanis in the UAE, and they said the move would ensure that genuine tourists and businessmen who want to visit the UAE would not face any hassle.
Muhammad Feroz Khan, currently visiting the UAE to meet his son and explore potential investment opportunities, welcomed the move, saying it would help curb the illegal activities of agents who exploit ordinary citizens by sending them abroad without proper documentation and charging exorbitant fees.
"The government's decision to ban such individuals from traveling abroad again for a certain period is justified, as it reinforces compliance with international laws and helps protect the country's reputation," he said. He further urged Pakistani authorities to ensure that only those with genuine visas and who fully meet travel requirements are allowed to leave the country.
However, sometimes, recruitment agencies also send blue-collar workers on fake visas. Last week, Pakistani missions in the UAE advised their citizens to 'exercise extreme caution when responding to online job advertisements offered outside the UAE because several individuals have fallen victim to fraudulent employment schemes abroad.
Pakistani national Rehana Perveen, currently visiting the UAE, was extremely worried when the travel agent in her home city, Lahore, told her that she had a 50-50 chance of visit visa approval.
'The travel agent told us visas were being rejected, so we decided to apply here in the UAE. Thankfully, we got it two days ago,' said relieved Rehana.
She added that it is 'definitely' a welcome decision because other Pakistanis who want to come to UAE to meet their loved ones for tourism or business can get visas easily.
A travel executive in Dubai, asking not to be named, said sometimes airlines have to bear the loss.
'It is important for travel agencies that when they apply for visas on behalf of an applicant, they ensure that person leaves the country before the visa expires. A certain amount is asked as a deposit from applicants for safety purposes to make sure that he/she leaves the country,' the agent said.
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