Tazeen Akhtar
Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haidar has said that UAE Visa is banned for Pakistanis but they are not admitting it rather saying it is not banned. Government is responsible for our people drowning in the sea in their desperation to reach Europe. FIA, Police, Ministry of Overseas are responsible for that. There are black sheep in these departments who have connections with human trafficking mafia.
Governor made these remarks in his address at a book launch event held at National Press Club Islamabad on 19 Jan 2025. The book “Japan Kahani” has been authored by journalist Amjad Siddique on his donkey into Japan.
Boat carrying 80 passengers including Pakistanis capsizes near Moroccan port
Amjad Siddique has noted his personal experiences about what a Pakistani has to face in his efforts to reach some country of bright prospects of his successful life. Amjad has tried to raise awareness among the youth not to opt to illegal immigration.
Sardar Saleem Haidar spoke in the same context and said that Prime Minister should take strict action against all those who are responsible for these incidents in our departments. These culprits should be made example for others.
“There are black sheep in FIA, Police, Overseas Ministry who are involved with agent mafia. They are sending our youth to the journey of death. Government is responsible for what is happening with our youth in the international seas, Governor said.
Governor said where ever a boat is capsized , majority of the dead are Pakistanis. They are our children. We are sad for them no matter which way they go abroad.
He said it is a failure. It is failure of the Government. We have to sort this matter for good. Why we can not correct this situation. When departments will work rightly, nothing will happen with our youth.
He said our departments know very well who are the agents and where are they sitting.
On UAE visa ban, Governor added that our own people are guilty for the ban. They beg there and reach there through illegal means. Some fraudulent take heavy loans there and return to Pakistan. They earn a bad name for our great country.
Governor admired the author on his work and assured the participants to take up this matter with President and Prime Minister and will convince them to take strict action against the responsible officials, agents and also include education on how to travel abroad legally in the curriculum.
He said ,” I agree with the author on boat capsizing incidents that the reason is not poverty because most of the victims belong to 4 districts of Punjab only.”
Mr. Farooq Adil, Afzal Butt, Tariq Chaudhry, Azhar Jatoi, Nayyar Ali, Khalid Majeed, Sajjad Haidar, Syed Mohsin Raza also shared their views on the book and recommended it as worth reading.
