The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has relaxed visa restrictions, making it easier for 400,000 Pakistanis to enter the country in the past six months. This development was shared during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis.
According to officials, Pakistans Prime Minister personally discussed the visa issue with UAE authorities, leading to this positive change. Meanwhile, Pakistans embassy in the UAE continues to work towards further easing of visa rules for Pakistani citizens.
The meeting, which was led by Senator Zishan Khanzada, also touched upon concerns regarding taxation on mobile phones brought into Pakistan from abroad. Many overseas Pakistanis have raised concerns about high taxes when they bring mobile devices home, and officials are looking into the matter.
Additionally, it was revealed that around 10 million private-sector employees in Pakistan are registered with the Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI), which provides financial support after retirement.
The discussion also covered Pakistans prisoner exchange agreements with other countries. At present, Pakistan only has such agreements with Malaysia and Indonesia. However, negotiations with UAE authorities are ongoing to establish a similar agreement, which could help Pakistani prisoners in the UAE return home under legal arrangements.
