ISLAMABAD: Islamabad and the UAE will sign a formal “Pre-Immigration Clearance” pact allowing Pakistani passengers traveling to the Gulf country to avoid lengthy procedures at airports, the Pakistani interior ministry said on Monday.
The ministry’s statement followed a meeting between Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and a UAE delegation led by its Director General Customs Ahmed Abdullah Bin Lahej Al Falasi. The two sides held detailed discussions on Pakistan-UAE ties, mutual cooperation and simplifying immigration processes for travelers, the interior ministry said.
“During the meeting, both sides agreed that a formal pact on ‘Pre-Immigration Clearance’ between Pakistan and the UAE would be signed,” the statement said. “The system will initially be launched on a pilot basis, with Karachi selected as the first location.”
Naqvi said that as per the under the new system, immigration and relevant clearance of passengers traveling to the UAE will take place in Pakistan. After its implementation, passengers arriving in the UAE will not be required to undergo lengthy immigration procedures and will be able to exit the airport directly as “domestic passengers,” the ministry said.
The minister said this initiative will make travel easier, save time and enhance the overall experience of passengers.
