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Film on plight of Pak illegals set for release

In a programme organised by the PAD at the Pakistan Sports and Recreation Centre on Friday, several people, including the Ambassador of Pakistan to the UAE, Air Marshal (retd) Syed Qaiser Hussain, members of Dubai Police including Ibrahim Dabbal, representatives of the PAD and Pakistan Professionals Forum (PPF) and others expressed their views on the plight of the illegals in the UAE.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, the General Secretary of PAD, Saleem Farooque said that the documentary spanning 10 to 15 minutes would highlight the difficulties faced by the illegals upon their entry, their stay and the consequent suffering they had to endure in jail.

“The filming of the documentary is being done by Spotlight Media and the film will be released to all Pakistani channels through the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation,” he said.

Mr Farooque also said that as permission from the Dubai Police had been obtained, a major portion of the documentary would be filmed inside the Dubai jails where the apprehended Pakistanis would also give their views and narrate their problems.

On the occasion, Air Marshal (retd) Hussain highlighted the reasons for the influx and said that there was need to create an awareness with regard to the legal method of entering the country.

The role of the dubious recruitment agents in encouraging people to enter the country illegally was discussed as well as the problems they would have to face once they entered the UAE.

He also said that the UAE laws were not as relaxed as before, and there were strict penalties for violators that would now be screened for eye testing to stop entries on duplicate or fake passports.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Farooque highlighted the reasons for the entry of Pakistanis into the UAE in huge numbers. He said that unemployment in Pakistan and population explosion had forced people to turn towards foreign countries for better prospects, while lack of knowledge had forced them to enter the country illegally.

On the occasion, several other attendees also recorded their views for the documentary, which would most likely be titled “Plight of illegal Pakistanis.”

• UAE