WEB DESK: Around 3,500 Pakistani nationals were deported from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during the first four months of this year, the Senate has heard.
Minister Clarifies Deportations Are Individual Cases
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry shared the figures in the upper house on Thursday, while firmly downplaying concerns that Pakistani citizens are being systematically targeted by authorities in the Gulf state, according to Dawn News.
Responding to a calling attention notice raised by opposition leader Raja Nasir Abbas, alongside senators Samina Mumtaz Zehri and Azam Swati, the minister clarified that the deportations were the result of individual legal infractions rather than a coordinated diplomatic policy against Pakistanis.
Breakdown of Deportations
Providing a breakdown of the situation, Mr. Chaudhry informed lawmakers that exactly 3,494 Pakistanis had been sent home between January and April. He explained that those expelled included individuals convicted in various criminal cases, alongside others who were repatriated following standard administrative procedures enacted by Emirati authorities.
The minister emphasized that the UAE, like any sovereign nation, strictly enforces its domestic laws and visa regulations. He maintained that any foreign national found violating these codes faces similar legal consequences, regardless of their country of origin.
No Evidence of Systematic Targeting
Addressing anxieties regarding potential discrimination against Pakistani workers in the region, the minister stated there was no concrete evidence to suggest that Islamabad’s citizens are being singled out. The assurance comes amid ongoing concerns among the Pakistani diaspora regarding shifting visa policies and stricter immigration enforcement in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.
Government Engagement with UAE
Mr. Chaudhry reiterated that Pakistan continues to share deep-rooted economic and diplomatic ties with the UAE. He assured the upper house that the government remains actively engaged with Emirati officials to protect the welfare of overseas Pakistanis, while simultaneously encouraging citizens abroad to strictly adhere to local laws.
The statement aims to ease concerns among Pakistani expatriates who form a significant portion of the UAE’s workforce and contribute substantially to Pakistan’s remittances. Officials emphasized that individual compliance with host country laws remains the most effective way to avoid deportation.
