UAE | Employment

Hundreds throng missions

Asian diplomatic missions were overwhelmed with enquires from amnesty seekers who wanted to get more information on the general pardon.

  • By Sunita Menon, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 00:00 June 5, 2007
  • Gulf News

  • Workers seeking repatriation form a long queue outside the Indian Consulate in Dubai on Monday.
  • Image Credit: Devadasan/Gulf News
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Dubai: Asian diplomatic missions were overwhelmed with enquires from amnesty seekers who wanted to get more information on the general pardon.

While the diplomatic missions are asking for further clarification from the authorities concerned on the modalities that have to be followed, the amnesty seekers were seen queuing up to their respective consulates with applications.

Officials at the missions, who spoke to Gulf News said that discussions and meetings are already underway to come up with a contingency plan.

B.S. Mubarak, labour consul at the Indian Consulate in Dubai, said further information on the modalities will be provided by immigration authorities towards the end of this week.

He said the consulate will have a contingency plan in place to cater to the large turn out of amnesty seekers, and temporary help will be sought from Indian organisations to fill up any shortage of staff.

A senior official at the Pakistani Consulate General in Dubai told Gulf News that a special committee has been formed to deal with the expected rush of illegal Pakistanis. Dr Zafar Iqbal, press counsellor at the Pakistan Consulate in Dubai said that additional staff will be appointed.

He said: "We have also alerted the Pakistan Association in Dubai as we are planning to set up an additional office there if we encounter an amnesty rush."

Virginia Clavaz, labour attaché, Philippine labour office in Dubai, said that they would start work on amnesty after they receive clarification from the immigration authorities.

She said: "We want to know the procedures that will be involved, the type of people who will be covered under the amnesty. Our officials are coordinating with the immigration officials."

Kamrul Ahsan, the consul-general of Bangladesh, said: "We need to have more understanding on the general pardon. We are waiting to know how the modalities needs to be worked out."

Wasantha Senanayake, the consul general of Sri Lanka said that he is also waiting for more clarification from the immigration. He said: "Our officials will get in touch with the immigration in this regard.

- With inputs by Ashfaq Ahmed and Wafa Issa, Staff Reporters

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