Pakistan plans new consulate building in Dubai
The existing consulate struggles to accommodate growing Pakistani community
DUBAI: Pakistan’s top diplomat in United Arab Emirates (UAE), has announced plans to establish a new, state-of-the-art consulate facility in Dubai to meet the increasing demand for consular services.
Speaking to Gulf News in an exclusive interview, Ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi revealed that a proposal for the new consular facility has already been submitted to Pakistan’s government. “We have signed and sent the proposal for approval. A delegation from Pakistan is expected to visit soon to finalise the project,” he shared.
Why is a new consulate building needed in Dubai?
The current consulate, built in the 1980s, is no longer sufficient for the growing Pakistani community in the UAE, which now stands at nearly 2 million. On a regular working day, between 1,000 and 1,200 people visit the Pakistan Consulate General in Dubai, seeking services such as passport renewals, national identity cards, and legal consultations.
“We’ve been advocating for a larger facility for years. The community’s needs have outgrown the current building, and we need to take action now,” Ambassador Tirmizi said during the interview.
Temporary relocation planned
To ensure uninterrupted services, consular operations will be temporarily relocated until the new building is completed.
The ambassador also mentioned that Pakistani community centres in Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah could be used to ease service demand in the interim.
The new facility will provide streamlined consular services, visa issuance, and emergency assistance. “We need a facility that can cater to our community’s needs efficiently,” Tirmizi said, highlighting that space constraints, particularly during the peak summer travel season, have made service delivery challenging.
While infrastructure expansion remains a priority, recent advancements in online services have helped manage the influx of applicants. “Visa services are fully online, and passport renewals can also be done through the same platform. This has reduced some of the pressure, but we still receive over 1,000 visitors daily,” he said.
Consular service upgrades
The Pakistan Embassy in Abu Dhabi has also undergone renovations, with an upgraded consular hall offering modern amenities. “We are committed to improving services across the UAE, ensuring faster and more efficient assistance for our citizens,” the ambassador concluded.