In a recent meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis, urgent measures were recommended to address the visa ban affecting Pakistanis in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Chaired by Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, the committee emphasized the need to take the Prime Minister into confidence and suggested that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif engage directly with the UAE government to resolve the issue.

The meeting, held in-camera, focused on the challenges faced by Pakistani expatriates in both the UAE and Iraq. According to sources from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Overseas Pakistanis, the committee was briefed on the difficulties encountered by Pakistanis in these regions, particularly the impact of the UAE visa restrictions.

In addition to the UAE concerns, the committee examined the situation of Pakistanis in Iraq. Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that between 40,000 to 50,000 Pakistanis are residing illegally in Iraq, while only 8,000 are working legally. The Secretary of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis confirmed reports of exploitation, including torture and the confiscation of passports upon arrival in Iraq. Furthermore, 44 Pakistani agents are currently imprisoned in Iraq on charges of human trafficking.

The committee has forwarded the issue of illegal Pakistani residents in Iraq to the Federal Cabinet for resolution. The Bureau of Immigration noted that the problems primarily affect those living illegally in Iraq.