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Arab News
3 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan deputy PM to visit UK for talks, launch diaspora land record project
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, will undertake an official visit to the United Kingdom (UK) on Sunday to hold with top officials and to launch a land record project for the Pakistani diaspora, the Pakistani foreign office said on Saturday. In London, Dar will hold meetings with Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Pakistan Hamish Falconer, in addition to a breakfast meeting with Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey. The deputy prime minister will also engage with British parliamentarians and Kashmiri leaders during his visit, according to the Pakistani foreign office. 'The Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister will also inaugurate a Punjab Land Record Authority's project, piloted at the Pakistan High Commission, London,' it said. 'The initiative aims to assist members of the diaspora in resolving land documentation issues in Pakistan remotely.' The UK is one of Pakistan's largest bilateral development partners, with cooperation spanning education, health, climate resilience, governance reform and trade. It is home to one of the largest Pakistani diasporas, estimated at over 1.6 million people, who contribute significantly to remittances, business and cultural links. These Pakistani expatriates often complain of prolonged procedures relating to sale, purchase, transfer and settlement of disputes relating to their lands back home. The initiative is likely to streamline processes to facilitate Pakistanis living in the UK. The governments in Pakistan's Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces have also saved billions of rupees and unlocked significant new resources for development under a landmark British-backed governance program that concluded this year, according to the British High Commission. The UK's Sub-National Governance Program, which ran from 2019 to 2025, worked with provincial authorities to improve planning, budgeting and revenue mobilization. The program unlocked over £1.9 billion ($2.41 billion) in public finance, allowing savings to be reinvested into other public services. 'This program shows what is possible when strong partnerships come together to support long-term reform, changing people's lives,' British High Commission Development Director Sam Waldock said on Aug. 13. 'We've strengthened institutions, improved service delivery, and helped Pakistan unlock more of its resources to finance its own development. That has led to direct improvements to the day to day lives of millions — from helping people to access essential cash assistance, to creating waste management systems which makes their surroundings cleaner and more hygienic.' Last month, Pakistan and the United Kingdom (UK) decided to form a new business advisory council as officials from both countries met in London at the inaugural UK-Pakistan Trade Dialogue. The council will bring together senior business leaders and government officials to provide strategic advice on policy reform, offer a confidential forum for engagement, and help promote commercial opportunities by addressing market access challenges and sharing best practices.
Arab News
27-06-2025
- Business
- Arab News
The GCC's unified tourist visa could reshape travel for Pakistanis
After years of speculation and deliberation, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has finally green-lit a unified tourist visa, a long-awaited move that promises to reshape travel and mobility across the region. While this step is undoubtedly a major win for regional tourism, its impact on the Pakistani diaspora, one of the largest expatriate communities across the Gulf, is particularly noteworthy. For decades, Pakistani workers, students and families have navigated complex, often frustrating visa procedures for each individual Gulf state. From applying for separate visas for travel between Dubai and Doha to struggling with student documentation or missing out on major events like concerts or expos due to last-minute rejections, the process has been anything but seamless. The unified tourist visa offers a glimmer of relief. Though designed primarily for tourists, the ripple effect is far more expansive, opening doors for short-term mobility, job exploration, educational opportunities, and cross-border family reunions. Consider this: In the first three months of 2025 alone, over 151,000 Pakistani workers relocated to GCC countries. These include both skilled professionals and unskilled laborers seeking better livelihoods and the chance to support families back home. For them, even temporary mobility between GCC countries can mean access to new job markets, interviews, trade expos, and skill training opportunities that would otherwise be financially and bureaucratically out of reach. The emotional weight of these restrictions is not to be underestimated either. Countless Pakistanis living in the Gulf find themselves separated from family members in neighboring countries, unable to attend weddings, funerals, or even share a meal during Eid simply because of visa delays or denials. The recent Coldplay concert in Dubai, which saw several Pakistani fans turned away due to visa rejections despite holding confirmed tickets, was just one high-profile example of how cultural experiences, too, become inaccessible behind red tape. The new visa could allow families to plan trips, attend events, and spend quality time across borders without enduring the anxiety of visa roulette. For the Pakistani diaspora, often the invisible workforce behind Gulf megacities, it is a small but symbolic shift toward acknowledgment and inclusion. Sara Danial Moreover, for students and young professionals, this visa could open up cross-GCC educational fairs, internships, workshops, and academic conferences, giving them the kind of exposure and access their peers in more mobile regions have long enjoyed. In a time when digital economies, innovation hubs, and collaborative education are reshaping the Gulf's landscape, this ease of movement is not just a convenience, it's an enabler of progress. For Pakistan, the benefits go beyond personal mobility. The remittances sent back by Pakistani workers in the Gulf form the backbone of the country's fragile economy. According to the State Bank of Pakistan, remittances from GCC states alone make up a substantial portion of the country's foreign exchange reserves. Any move that facilitates smoother onboarding, better job access, and regional mobility for workers can directly impact the volume and sustainability of this economic lifeline. But there's more. This unified visa also has the potential to boost tourism from Pakistan to lesser-visited Gulf destinations. While Dubai and Doha have long attracted visitors, countries like Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait may now see an uptick in Pakistani tourists and short-term business travelers who previously didn't find it worth the hassle or cost of applying for multiple visas. This not only enhances people-to-people ties but also presents an opportunity for regional cultural exchange. That said, it's essential to acknowledge that the unified visa is, for now, a tourist visa, not a work or study permit. Skeptics may argue that its benefits for Pakistani workers or students are limited. But in practice, this visa provides the first layer of accessibility. It simplifies initial visits, lets prospective workers explore job markets, attend interviews, and build networks before securing long-term permits. Similarly, students can scout campuses, attend short courses or conferences, and explore their options with far less friction. It's the bridge before the commitment. This step toward integration also signals something larger: a region increasingly recognizing the need for cooperation, not just in policy or economy, but in the lived experiences of the millions who call the Gulf home, even temporarily. For the Pakistani diaspora, often the invisible workforce behind Gulf megacities, it is a small but symbolic shift toward acknowledgment and inclusion. Ultimately, for this policy shift to achieve its full potential, it must be coupled with clarity, accessibility, and perhaps, in time, expansion into work and study categories. But as a first step, it's an important one. It shows that the Gulf is ready to open up in ways that matter not just to tourists in luxury resorts but to workers, students, and families in shared apartments. The GCC unified visa may be stamped as a tourist pass, but for millions of Pakistanis, it carries the promise of connection, convenience, and economic opportunity. At a time when the world feels increasingly divided, that's a border worth crossing. —Sara Danial is an independent writer from Karachi.
