UAE immigration authorities have extended their ban on Pakistani nationals applying for a visit visa. Pakistan Overseas Employment Association (POEA) spokesperson Adnan Paracha confirmed this information.
The UAE government has already banned the issuance of visit visas to Pakistani nationals residing in 22 cities. However, the Emirates government has now added two more cities to the list of banned cities. Traders are also included in this ban.
According to Parachar, misrepresentation by travel agents is the primary cause of this problem. He said agents would send people on visit visas and mislead them into thinking they were being sent on work visas.
Later, when these people could not find jobs, they started begging on the streets of the UAE, and the government expelled them. First, 12 cities in Pakistan were listed where UAE immigration authorities will not grant permits to UAE nationals.
The number was then increased to 22, and two more locations have now been added. UAE immigration authorities will no longer issue visit visas to Pakistanis residing in these 24 cities.
List of Pakistani cities banned by UAE authorities are: Abbottabad, Dera Ghazi Khan, Quetta, Khoshab, Muzaffargarh, Sargodha, Attock, Dera Ismail Khan, Kasur, Kurram Agency, Nawabshah, Sheikhupura, Bajaur Agency, Hangu, Kohat, Larkana, Para . Chinar, Skardu, Chakwal, Hunza, Kotli, Mehmand Agency, Sahiwal and Sukkur.
In August, 80 Pakistanis were deported from the UAE for fake return tickets and other issues. Parcha suggested that the UAE government should be informed about the situation, so that the relevant authorities can take action against the travel agents.