Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, Pakistan’s ambassador to the UAE, spoke about the continued difficulties Pakistanis experience obtaining visas during the GITEX GLOBAL 2024 conference in Dubai. Though overstayers can now leave without penalty until October 31st thanks to a recent amnesty policy, Tirmizi admitted that there has been “some improvement, but not a lot.” He further emphasized that the problem goes beyond the amnesty, as many Pakistani professionals, entrepreneurs, and tourists have had their visas denied recently.
Effects of Denied Visas on Attendance at GITEX
Hundreds of Pakistanis were left behind at GITEX GLOBAL, an event that attracted attendees from over 180 nations, as a result of visa refusal. Getting visit visas was a problem for many Pakistani IT workers, entrepreneurs, and travelers. In the past, this was usually a simple process. Travel agencies saw that men under 45 who were doing it alone or without family were especially likely to be turned down.
Amnesty Programs and Expedited Visas
The UAE implemented an amnesty scheme to address the rising problem of overstays, allowing individuals to depart the country until October 31 without being subject to fines or being prohibited from returning. Despite this, Ambassador Tirmizi recognizes the seriousness of the situation and says that the larger problem of visa rejections continues to be important. Even though Pakistan’s passport has always been among the poorest, he said that this high number of rejections is unheard of.
Obstacles in the Pakistani Workplace
The number of people registered for job in the United Arab Emirates has sharply decreased, according to data from Pakistan’s Bureau of Emigration & Overseas job. As of September 2024, there were fewer than 60,000 registered Pakistani workers, down from 229,894 in 2023. Should this pattern persist, the number of registered workers may reach its lowest point since the COVID-19 years.
350,522 Pakistani laborers were registered in the UAE in 2014, the peak year. Nonetheless, the kinds of workers being accepted are changing due to the shifting nature of the UAE labor market. Tirmizi emphasized that in order for Pakistan to keep up with the UAE’s changing economic environment, it must export trained professionals rather than “blue-collar” laborers.
The Changing Work Market in the UAE
Over the past two decades, Dubai has undergone substantial change, with industries including business, media, and sports experiencing unprecedented growth. For example, the GITEX GLOBAL event had to spread to two locations in order to handle the growing number of attendees. Large corporations, including JP Morgan, have established private banking units in Dubai to serve the increasing number of ultra-wealthy individuals in the area.
Tirmizi stressed that Pakistan needs to concentrate on exporting its best employees to the United Arab Emirates. As the UAE moves toward a more sophisticated economy, the need for skilled labor has grown, making room for unskilled labor from nations like Pakistan.
Professionalism and Social Media
In addition to addressing the larger visa issue, Tirmizi warned Pakistanis against criticizing foreign and domestic policy on social media, since it could damage their standing overseas. He emphasized the value of organizational abilities, emotional intelligence, and the capacity to function in a multicultural setting.
Pakistan’s Attendance at GITEX Worldwide
Tirmizi promised that Pakistan was well-represented at GITEX GLOBAL despite the difficulties with visas. Pakistan has traditionally sent a small delegation to the event, but this year it was designated as the “tech destination.” On the first day of the event, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, the Minister of State for IT and Telecom, was scheduled to speak, so her absence cast doubt on the government’s commitment to the tech industry.
The Prospects for Hosting and the IT Sector in Pakistan GITEX
Tirmizi is upbeat about Pakistan’s IT industry and emphasizes the importance of the nation exporting IT and IT-enabled services as opposed to conventional commodities. In addition, he discussed his intentions to pursue a proposal to hold GITEX in Pakistan, which would increase that nation’s capacity for IT exports and establish it as a major player in the world tech market.
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