A troubling trend has emerged in Pakistan’s overseas job market, with authorities uncovering cases of Pakistanis submitting fake degrees and job contracts to secure UAE work visas. Today Pakistan News reports on this escalating issue as of March 2025, spotlighting its impact on Pakistan’s workforce and UAE relations.
Officials from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) revealed this week that dozens of applicants were caught using forged academic credentials and fabricated employment letters in visa applications processed through agencies in Lahore and Karachi. The UAE, a key destination for Pakistani labor, has tightened scrutiny following a surge in such fraud, with rejection rates climbing in 2025.
Sources indicate that many applicants, desperate for high-paying UAE jobs in sectors like IT and healthcare, turned to illicit agents promising swift visa approvals. “These fake documents undermine trust and hurt legitimate workers,” an FIA spokesperson said, noting that penalties now include fines and travel bans. The crackdown follows a December 2024 directive requiring police verification for UAE-bound Pakistanis, aimed at curbing illegal migration.
This echoes past scandals, like the 2024 revelation of two PIA pilots using fake degrees, signaling a broader issue of credential fraud. With UAE remittances projected at $3.58 billion for FY2025, the stakes are high. Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UAE, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, urged citizens to comply with legal channels, warning, “Fraud risks our reputation and opportunities abroad.”
