Dhaka, Nov. 27 -- The United Arab Emirates has stopped issuing visas to Pakistani citizens, Interior Ministry official Salman Chaudhry has told a Senate committee, citing concerns over "misuse" of visit visas.

Dawn reported Chaudhry's remarks to the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights on Thursday, in which he clarified that only blue and diplomatic passport holders are currently being granted visas.

He warned that a full ban, if imposed, would be difficult to reverse.

According to the Pakistan-based English-language daily, the committee was also told that very few visas had been granted in recent weeks and only after "much difficulty".

Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, who heads the committee, confirmed the official's remarks, sayi...