The Issue: Confusion arose after a Pakistani official, Additional Interior Secretary Salman Chaudhry, incorrectly stated that the UAE had stopped issuing visas to Pakistani citizens and that only diplomatic passport holders were being accepted.
The Official Clarification: The UAE Consul General in Karachi, Bakheet Ateeq Alremeithi, has publicly and firmly denied these reports.
Key Takeaways:
- Visa Services Are Normal: The Consul General confirmed that visa services are running normally and that all categories of visas continue to be issued without interruption to Pakistani nationals.
- Rumor is “Completely False”: The envoy explicitly labeled the rumors of a visa refusal policy as “completely false,” strongly refuting the statements made by the Pakistani official.
- Reason for Perceived Delays: The consulate is experiencing an “unprecedented increase” in applications. This high demand has led to appointment slots being filled for more than a month in advance for several visa types, which is a sign of operational busyness, not a policy change.
- No Passport Ban: The clarification also implicitly refutes the claim that the Pakistani passport was close to being banned, confirming that standard passports are being processed as usual.
Conclusion: Pakistani citizens can continue to apply for UAE visas through the standard channels. The long wait times for appointments are a result of high demand, not any political decision or restriction. Applicants should plan ahead due to the current backlog.
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