LCCI for addressing Gulf visa challenges
President of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry Mian Abuzar Shad has urged the government to take immediate and concrete diplomatic steps to resolve the mounting challenges in the issuance of business and labour visas by the United Arab Emirates, Dubai and Saudi Arabia.
The LCCI president said that continued delays and restrictions in visa issuance are causing serious disruptions to trade, investment and workforce mobility, which is affecting Pakistan's overall economic prospects in the region.
He expressed deep concern over the growing number of complaints being received from businesspersons, exporters, investors and human resources who are facing significant obstacles in obtaining visas from these countries, which have traditionally been among the country's most important trade and labour partners.
He said that the business community is suffering due to the lack of access to key Gulf markets where Pakistan has deep-rooted commercial and labour ties. These restrictions are not only causing distress to our entrepreneurs but also harming the nation's economic interests abroad.
He strongly urged the federal government to immediately initiate high-level diplomatic dialogue with the concerned countries to resolve these issues on an urgent basis.
Shad said that thousands of Pakistani businesses operate in these regions and that a significant portion of Pakistan's foreign remittances and exports are linked to the Gulf market. In light of this, any hurdles in the issuance of business and labour visas would not only dent Pakistan's economy but could also affect the development of host countries that benefit from skilled Pakistani labour and investments.
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