Islamabad, August 20: Pakistani lawmaker and former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser raised concerns in Parliament regarding the treatment of Pakistani citizens abroad. He accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of treating Pakistanis as second-class citizens.
During a parliamentary session, Qaiser shared a clip of his statement on the social media platform X. On August 18, he stated, “When the conflict began, our people were not treated well. I felt the attitude was inappropriate. Our diplomatic channels should address this. People have told me that the treatment was not acceptable. We want to see the UAE thrive, but what happened to our people is not right from a humanitarian perspective.”
Qaiser expressed regret over flight cancellations and the preferential treatment given to Indian and American nationals, saying, “Announcements were made that only passport holders from India and the USA would be accommodated. We protested, but we are disappointed with their behavior. After the flight cancellations, Indian and American citizens were provided hotel accommodations, while Pakistani travelers were left without any support.”
He referenced a delegation that shared similar grievances, stating, “That day, I felt the treatment of Pakistan was unjust. I believe we have diplomatic channels; they should raise this issue. Pakistani people respect and love the UAE government. Recently, a delegation approached me, expressing that the treatment we received was unacceptable. Pakistan played a very positive role in the US-Iran conflict. I urge the Foreign Office and the Foreign Department to address this matter.”
The Speaker acknowledged his concerns and directed that the issue be raised with the UAE with utmost seriousness.
It is noteworthy that the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has a Passenger Welfare Program that mandates arrangements for accommodation in case of flight cancellations or significant delays. Passengers are provided with hotels, meals, and other amenities based on their inconvenience and waiting time. However, there is no policy that allows for different hotel accommodations based on nationality.
Qaiser repeatedly highlighted Pakistan’s contributions to development. Approximately 1.8 million Pakistanis reside in the UAE, many of whom work in construction, transport, and logistics.
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