The photo has been used for illustrative purposes.

The Pakistan Consulate in Dubai for the benefit of the community, especially the working class, has announced to provide all consular services every second Saturday from February. This was announced by Ahmed Amjad Ali, Pakistan Consul General in Dubai and Northern Emirates while addressing a gathering of Pakistani journalists in his office.

He also shared the details of the achievements of the consulate in the year 2019. “During the 2019, the consulate carried out a number of milestones to extend services toward the community. Last year, we at consulate issued over 100,000 new passports, 25,000 visas and around 40,000 identity cards while approximately 10,000 community members including prisoners, needy and others were provided air tickets.

“The welfare section had also facilitated to repatriate around 600 dead bodies as well as 40 critical patients were assisted with stretchers and also carried out efforts to release around 400 prisoners from different jails in Dubai and other Northern Emirates. The prisoners had either minor fines to pay or were waiting for the arrangements of air tickets to meet their families in back homes,” he said.

The consulate through its welfare funds had also extended financial assistance to around 212 community members including individuals and families. “Through the welfare funds, the consulate had provided air tickets to needy Pakistanis after they presented complete exit papers while many destitute community members reached to get some financial assistance,” he said.

The officials had also successfully obtained around Dhs one million as blood money for six Pakistanis who died (in accident and murder cases) in the country. “The procedure of obtaining the blood money has been a tedious exercise and took around five to six months but our staff handed over the money to the destitute families in Pakistan,” he said.

The officials had also solved as many as 300 arbitration cases including disputes related to sponsor-employees, families and others.

The consulate has been overseeing three community schools – Dubai, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah – and to regulate their overall management, they spend around Dhs one million to provide necessary provisions, facilities for students and others.

“With the support of the Bohra community in Dubai, the community schools soon will have a multi-purpose facility with a number of indoor sports facilities to benefit the students,” Ali said.