The suspension of visa issuance by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for Pakistani nationals has begun to take a heavy toll on Pakistan’s exports and international trade engagement, according to Ismail Suttar, Founder Chairman of the Salt Manufacturers Association of Pakistan (SMAP).

Speaking on the issue, Ismail Suttar said the UAE was currently not issuing visas to Pakistani citizens under any category, creating serious challenges for exporters, traders and business delegations. He added that the reasons behind the restrictions had not been officially communicated, leaving the business community uncertain about the future of commercial exchanges with one of Pakistan’s key trading partners.

SMAP founder chairman was of the view that the visa uncertainty was already affecting business planning for the upcoming Gulfood exhibition, scheduled to be held early next year in Dubai. He said many Pakistani food companies were unlikely to plan their participation because they feared their sales teams and business representatives would not be able to secure UAE visas.

“When sales representatives are unable to obtain visas, companies cannot showcase their products, meet international buyers or explore new export opportunities,” he said, warning that the continued restrictions could undermine Pakistan’s efforts to expand exports in regional and global markets.

Ismail Suttar urged the Government of Pakistan to immediately engage with the UAE authorities through diplomatic channels to resolve the issue. He said the matter required urgent attention to facilitate the movement of Pakistani exporters and business professionals, protect trade interests and prevent further losses to the country’s export sector.

He cautioned that if the visa restrictions persist, Pakistan risks losing valuable business opportunities, weakening its presence at international trade exhibitions and allowing competitors from other countries to capture markets traditionally served by Pakistani exporters.