More than a month after the UAE stopped issuing visas to Pakistani citizens, the country's interior minister Mohsin Naqvi announced that beggars and people with incomplete documents will not be allowed to fly abroad.
In November, Pakistani interior ministry's additional secretary Salman Chaudhary said the UAE was issuing visas only to Pakistanis with blue (government officials) and diplomatic passports.
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Pakistani Senator Sameena Mumtaz Zehri, who heads the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights, had also admitted last month that the UAE and Saudi Arabia stopped issuing visas as many Pakistanis were "getting involved in criminal activities".
Following the visa curbs, ordinary passport holders from Pakistan were finding it difficult to gain entry permits as they face prolonged procedures and require special approvals.
Earlier this month, the UAE passed a federal law to punish illegal infiltrators and those who shelter them. The fine starts from Dh 1,00,000 and goes up to Dh 5 million for cases involving organised trafficking and multiple offenders. They could also get a minimum of two months in jail.
In case foreigners use their visa for purposes other than intended, including working while on visit or tourist visa, they can attract a minimum fine of Dh 10,000. Depending on the offence, they could also get imprisoned.