Of 1,200 Pakistani prisoners in UAE, 120 left in Abu Dhabi: Zulfi Bukhari

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis Sayed Zulfiqar Bukhari on Saturday said that only 120 Pakistani prisoners now remain in Abu Dhabi, of the 1,200 imprisoned in United Arab Emirates (UAE).

"A part of our humanitarian efforts during COVID-19 was release and repatriation of 1,200 prisoners from UAE, with 121 now left in prisons in Abu Dhabi," he wrote.

The premier's aide, on behalf of Pakistan, said he is grateful to the UAE government "for this compassionate gesture" and especially thanked UAE's Minister for Interior Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi, the ambassador of the United Arab Emirates in Islamabad.

Earlier in the day, Bukhari had announced that once the coronavirus pandemic subsides, the UAE will give preference to Pakistanis in terms of employment opportunities.

The Ministry for Overseas Pakistanis in a statement said that the UAE officials have given Bukhari reassurances in this regard.

Quoting Bukhari, the statement said the Pakistan government and UAE officials will ensure the rights of Pakistanis working in the Gulf country.

Bukhari also held a meeting with the Pakistani business community in Dubai.

He lauded the diaspora for providing aid for the repatriation of stranded nationals since the beginning of the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns.