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Hassan Afzal Khan, Consul General of Pakistan in the UAE
How is the Pakistani consulate working with the Dubai and UAE governments to help Pakistanis abroad respond to the outbreak?
Home to approximately 1.7 million Pakistanis, the UAE is the second largest Pakistani diaspora community in the world. Pandemic years — 2020 and 2021 — have been tough around the world. Like the rest of the world, Dubai and the rest of the UAE are under strict lockdown during this period. However, during the pandemic, the Pakistani Consulate in Dubai is available 24/7 to support the community. Immediately after many countries, including Pakistan, closed their airspace, some Pakistanis were stranded in the UAE overnight.
The Consulate General of Pakistan has started online registration for repatriation and has repatriated more than 60,000 Pakistanis through Covid special flights in Pakistan’s largest repatriation operation to date. With the help of philanthropists, the consulate general provided free tickets to thousands of passengers. The Consulate General is also distributing ration bags to individuals/families in Dubai and the Northern Emirate and providing free accommodation to hundreds of stranded Pakistanis at its two facilities in Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah. After airspace opened, Pakistanis returned to their jobs and homes in the UAE. With the support of the UAE government, this is possible.
The consulate has now maximized convenience by offering online services. In addition to visa facilitation, the Consulate General has also launched a mobile application for various services for its community members. In addition to digital services, we have also expanded our space and started a one-window operation of community services. This helps us ensure social distancing while providing rapid service to the community.
The Pakistani Consulate has been a staunch supporter of Pakistani entrepreneurs in Dubai and the UAE. How do you keep doing good work?
We have a very strong presence in the UAE business community and contribute positively to the development of the UAE and Pakistan. Dubai Pakistan Business Council is one of the vibrant and active business forums in Dubai with over 600 members representing companies from different industries. We encourage and promote new entrepreneurs at the Pakistani Consulate in Dubai.
The UAE has a good business environment and excellent infrastructure. These are magnets for Pakistani entrepreneurs. For example, at the recently concluded Expo 2020, Pakistani companies signed more than 100 memorandums of understanding. About 48 IT companies are participating in Expo 2020 from Pakistan, of which about 20 are startups. This shows that Pakistani investors are interested in new business and entrepreneurial opportunities in the UAE.
How can the consulate help promote Pakistan’s value in tourism?
Pakistan offers a variety of options for all tourists. Home to one of the oldest civilizations in the world, the country is home to countless places of interest, many religious and historical sites, and unique arts and crafts. It’s also an adventure travel paradise, with 5 of the world’s 14 mountains over 8,000 meters above sea level, a long coastline, deserts, rivers, valleys and frozen glaciers.
The Pakistani government has put tourism at the top of its agenda and has taken a series of measures to boost tourism, including relaxing the visa regime and online visa system to facilitate and welcome foreign tourists to Pakistan. Pakistan currently provides visas on arrival for tourists from more than 50 countries and electronic visas for 175 countries. Various digital resources provide consumers with information on planning trips to regions of their choice, including the official website of the Pakistani Consulate.
Even during Expo 2020, tourism promotion is the main theme of the Pakistan Pavilion, and we have received good response and strong interest from visitors.
Please share personal information with Pakistani citizens and UAE leaders as Pakistan completes its 75th Independence Day.
This year Pakistan completes 75 years of independence and I congratulate my fellow Pakistanis living in the UAE on this great occasion. Pakistanis abroad are our pride and I urge them to continue to serve and contribute with dedication to this country and Pakistan and to continue to earn respect for our home country Pakistan. I ask Allah Almighty to give us the strength to sincerely serve our great country and lead Pakistan on the path of greater progress and prosperity.
I would also like to thank the leadership of the UAE and the people of this great country for continuing to support their Pakistani brothers and provide them with an area where the people of Pakistan can come here and make it their second home.
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