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Changing attestation rules irk Pak expats

Though many of them come prepared with copies of their degree or diploma certificates attested, several say that the ever-changing rules by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the personal requirements of company PROs, make the attestations invalid, thereby forcing them to undergo the procedure again.

"I now have to have my original degrees attested from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education and the UAE Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan. Upon arrival in the UAE, I again have to undergo attestations from the Pakistani Consulate or embassy and finally the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UAE," complains Azam Bhatti, a Pakistani expatriate preparing to take up a job offer in Dubai.

"I have only two options - either to travel back to Pakistan or give my original degrees to agencies who would do the work for me, but take too much time and money," he says.

"For the benefit of overseas Pakistanis, a web site should be launched which is linked to the Ministry of Education in Pakistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and can be accessed by all Pakistani missions abroad so that all verifications about the authenticity of the degree or diploma certificates are done easily," suggests Mr Bhatti.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Kanakam, Manager of Index Group said, "We charge Dh600 per certificate or degree and the time period required is 20-25 working days." She also said that the attestations for Pakistan were lesser as compared to the demand from India.

"Our agents in the country undertake four processes including attestations from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education, the UAE Embassy in Islamabad and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UAE," she informed.

Frustrated Abdul Razzak, who also recently took up a job offer in Sharjah said, "I spent a lot of money and time by sending my degrees for attestations through an agency. But after two months, I was told that because of a paper that I did not attach for verification, my documents could not be attested and the money was non-refundable as they had made the efforts. Besides, they misplaced my original degree and said they were not responsible for it."

Manasri from Advanced Management Consultants in Sharjah said, "We require the original mark sheet and certificates, the passport copy and three photographs. For a normal attestation, it takes two months while the charges are Dh500." She also said that the agency does help the client get another degree in case it is lost during the attestation process but do not promise that the degree would never ever get misplaced.

Amanullah Larik, Pakistani Consul General said, "In Pakistan, during the attestation process by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the signature of the officer present during the year of the signing of the degree is verified to avoid discrepancy. "This verification process also avoids attestations on fake degrees," he added. Mr Larik clarified that any agency offering attestation services in the UAE had no link with the Pakistan government, embassy or consulate.

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