ABU DHABI: The Pakistani Embassy in Abu Dhabi has temporarily stopped its passport services due to a technical issue, officials confirmed on Saturday.
Sources close to the embassy said the suspension is only for a short time, and passport processing will remain paused until the technical problem is fixed. The embassy clarified that the issue is operational, and work is ongoing to restore services as soon as possible.
In the meantime, Pakistani citizens living in Abu Dhabi have been advised to use the online system for passport-related services. No specific timeline has been given for when services will resume, but the embassy assured that updates will be shared once the matter is resolved.
Earlier, reports also highlighted difficulties faced by Pakistanis after several people lost their jobs.
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Recent reports claimed that Etihad Airways suddenly dismissed more than a dozen Pakistani employees working at its UAE hangar. Some reports suggested they were given only two days to leave the country.
These claims spread quickly on social media, with many linking the situation to wider regional tensions and concerns about job security for expatriates in the Gulf. However, it was later clarified that the layoffs were not based on nationality.
One user claimed that an affected employee had worked with the airline for over 18 years before being dismissed. Posts also alleged that the workers were called by immigration authorities and told to leave the UAE within 48 hours, which raised concerns over how quickly the action was taken.
The issue gained attention online, with some suggesting that Pakistani workers were being unfairly affected. Others described it as part of a gradual cut in “non-essential roles,” though there has been no official confirmation of this.
Amid the speculation, Pakistani policy expert Ali K. Chishti dismissed the idea that nationality was a factor. He said the layoffs were more likely part of routine workforce changes due to challenges in the aviation and tourism sectors, rather than any targeted action.
The situation has also been discussed widely online in connection with recent diplomatic and financial matters involving Pakistan and the UAE, including claims about investment withdrawals and debt concerns. However, none of these claims have been officially linked to the reported layoffs.