Photo has been used fori llustrative purposes.

Jamil Khan, Senior Reporter

The Pakistan Consulate in Dubai has become the first mission to launch a dedicated mobile application for the community residing in Dubai and Northern Emirates.

The new mobile application “PakInDubai” was launched by Pakistan Consul General Ahmad Amjad Ali to facilitate the community at a press event held at the consulate in Dubai. The event was held on the last working day of Ahmad Amjad Ali who is heading for Iraq this week.

The event was attended by the consulate officials and scores of mediapersons.

The mobile application provides access to all consular and welfare services ranging from attestation of documents, applications for visas, passport and ID card/ NICOP, information and facilitation about dead body transportation, FERC/OPF and legal advice.

“Ease of use has been the priority while designing the mobile application,” said Consul General Amjad Ali. “The community can now take appointments for consular services via this application, check documents’ requirements and fees etc without physically visiting the Consulate General of Pakistan. Applicants can also check the status of their documents through this application,” he added.

He said that a large number of the Pakistani community resides in other emirates. This facility will save their time and money and they can access all services from the comfort of their homes.

Additional features of the mobile application include verification of UAE job letters and UAE visas for Pakistanis, information regarding land disputes in Pakistan, family matters and other Government organisations for overseas Pakistanis in the UAE.

The application is available online and can be downloaded from the website of the Consulate General of Pakistan, Dubai. “Currently the mobile application is available only at the Consulate’s website “pakistanconsulatedubai.ae” as it is under review by the Google App Store and Apple iOS market place.

Responding to a question from Gulf Today, the CG said community members residing in Northern Emirates and Abu Dhabi and Al Ain will benefit from this. “Soon the Pakistan Embassy will be launching a similar mobile  application for the community residing in the capital and Al Ain,” he said.

He further pointed that the existing system of manual and online services will be operating regularly.

“Dubai Consulate is the first Pakistani mission out of 118 missions in all over the world to launch the mobile application announced three months ago on the Pakistan Day occasion,” he added.

The application is under the review by Google App Store and Apple iOS and will be live for the public within 3-4 weeks. It mentioned that any mobile application made by government departments is usually kept under review for 3-4 weeks.

The app will be in English and Urdu to cater for all segments of the community.

During the question and answer session, the Consul General added that there are many improvement initiatives under way including the expansion of hall for visitors, setting up a nursing room for female visitors with infants, a prayer room for females besides the number of washrooms increased for male and female visitors.

“There will be a dedicated staff to review the complaints registered through the mobile application while the telephone exchange with more lines will be working in the next two weeks,” he added.

Gayan Chand, senior Consul, lauded the leadership of the Consul General and assured the media that the quality of services would be maintained to benefit the community.

The Pakistan Ambassador to the UAE, Afzaal Mahmood, recently visited the Pakistan Association Dubai (PAD), a community centre with multiple facilities, and appreciated the community for their support in the construction and running of modern facilities in Dubai.

Mahmood, along with the office-bearers of PAD and the mission’s officials, toured the different parts of the PAD and admired the centre. “Pakistanis are acknowledged the world over as a generous community, actively engaged in philanthropic activities with a deep sense of compassion towards fellow community members. Channellising these contributions towards wellbeing of others and providing world-class social services is the real challenge. I am pleased to see services and facilities at Pakistan Association Dubai today. PAD is no doubt among the best associations in the world,” he said.