The Emeriti authorities deported another 1,276 Pakistani nationals, reported Gulf News, as the newspaper said, “Pakistanis and Indians have been warned against flying into Dubai for job hunt on tourist/visit visas.”
According to details, the move came after hundreds “job-seekers” were denied entry at the airport for not meeting visa requirements.”
The exact number of the Pakistanis denied entry is stated to 1,374 as the remaining 98 were still at the airport who would be deported within 12 hours, the Gulf News said quoting Pakistan’s consulate.
Similarly, the Indian consulate said around 300 passengers had been stopped at the airport so far. “Around 80 were allowed entry later. Right now, 49 are still at the airport and we are trying to send them back by tonight or tomorrow. But there is a huge rush on flights,” a consulate spokesperson told Gulf News on Tuesday evening.
Earlier, the UAE authorities had made a confirmed return ticket mandatory for visit and tourist visa holders to enter the country.
It is not the first batch for deportees as a total of 678 Pakistani citizens and over 140 Indians were denied entry last week for non-compliance.
In this connection, a Pakistani official said the authorities back home had been informed to stop ‘job seekers’ coming to Dubai on visit/tourist visas.
“There are now two checkpoints, at the check-in counters and at the immigration counters. If the officials suspect that a passenger on a tourist visa is flying to Dubai seeking job, he will not be allowed to fly,” the newspaper quoted him as saying.
He added, “The mission has also asked authorities back home to ensure that passengers on tourist visas have a valid return ticket, hotel booking and show money.”
The Indian diplomatic mission has also issued similar instructions. ““If you are on a particular visa category, you have to satisfy that that you are a bona fide visa holder. No country will accept travellers without proper documents and those who do not fulfil the requirements.”
On the other hand, Bangladeshi national flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines on Tuesday announced, reported the Gulf News, that all passengers holding visit visas and waiting for their journey must have Biman return ticket (one ticket with two coupons) for travelling from Bangladesh to the UAE to avoid any deportation.