Pakistan’s mission to the UAE has announced any citizens looking to return to Pakistan but unable to because of expired or lost passports will be able to take advantage of emergency documentation to facilitate their return.
Nearly 1.2 million nationals from Pakistan reside in the country. I Information posted on the Embassy of Pakistan’s website detail how amnesty seekers can look to take advantage of the UAE Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (FAIC)’s ‘Protect Yourself by Modifying Your Status’ campaign.
The amnesty campaign, which begins today and runs until October 31, aims to help repatriate to their home countries without charge those who have overstayed the tenure of their visit or work visas, have absconded from sponsors owing to disputes, or are undocumented residents in the country’s seven Emirates.
The scheme also allows for those out of status to file for a renewal of permission to stay within the country provided they are able to apply for a new visa, or gain or regain lawful employment in the country.
The UAE has previously announced similar amnesty schemes four times earlier including in 2007 and 2013.
Out of more than 340,000 illegal residents that came forward in 2007, roughly 25,000 Pakistani nationals renewed their visas or were repatriated home.
Following the exodus, the Pakistani government introduced new initiatives to curb illegal foreign nationals overstaying their visas including machine readable passports and biometric national identity cards.
Nearly 62,000 exit permits were issued for expatriates repatriated home in 2013, approximately 3,000 of whom were from Pakistan.
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