Pakistan, UAE to begin visa-free travel for officials, diplomats from August 1: Tirmizi

ISLAMABAD: Diplomatic and official passport holders belonging to Pakistan would not require visa to visit the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the same facility would be available to visitors from the UAE for visiting Pakistan from August 1 this year.

The two sides would discuss easing visa facility for media persons and other exclusive classes soon. The details were provided by Pakistan’s ambassador to the UAE, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, in a chat with The News from Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

Talking about the recent visit of Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar to the UAE for chairing Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) after twelve years, he said that besides the JMC protocol, three Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) on “Mutual Exemption of Entry Visa Requirements for Diplomatic and Official Passport Holders”, “Establishment of a Joint Task Force to Promote Investments”, and an agreement on “Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy” were inked.

The session was co-chaired by Senator Ishaq Dar and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, DPM UAE/Foreign Minister, reflecting strong political will and mutual trust.

The full spectrum of bilateral relations including trade, investment, energy, food security, manpower and education, was reviewed with actionable outcomes agreed, he said.

Ambassador Tirmizi recalled that the JMC provided a detailed roadmap for future cooperation and sectoral coordination. Both sides agreed to enhance i