KARACHI:
Every Pakistani married woman who wants to proceed abroad on a work visa needs a signed NOC from her husband before she receives the Protectorate of Emigrants’ approval, The Express Tribune has learned.
The office requires the husband’s presence before a director as he signs the NOC and often, officials will question why the woman wishes to travel abroad alone. “Why can’t your husband go with you? Have you two had a fight? Are you separated?” are some of the questions that women say they are asked during the application process. “I have never been humiliated like this before,” said a senior executive of a company.
Leading Pakistani lawyers were baffled to hear about this requirement, which is diligently enforced by the seven protectorates around the country. The Emigration Ordinance 1979 and its rules do not say anything about this particular condition, the lawyers say. There is no law in Pakistan that bars a woman from going abroad to work without a husband’s permission, says Farooq Ahmed, a Supreme Court lawyer. “The NOC is only needed when the couple is separated and there is a dispute over the children,” he said.
“I am really not sure about this. I would have to check with the relevant officer,” said Director General of Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment Habibur Rehman when asked about the verification process.
“We were lenient but a few months ago a woman went to Saudi Arabia and her husband went to court and said that she left without his permission. Now the lawyers and even FIA are grilling us. Why should we suffer?” an official at the Protectorate explained.
But those seeking work permits insist that the ‘rules’ are just a money-making scheme. “The officials don’t accept just any NOC. You’re told you have to buy a standard NOC form from the Protectorate and only that form is accepted. Why is that?” questioned one male applicant.
Many women say they have resorted to making applications through travel agencies. The rate for processing, including official fees of Rs6,500, averages Rs18,000.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 23rd, 2014.
COMMENTS (18)
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Pakistan becoming Bakistan? Why we are following Saudi foot steps? Islam gave equal rights to men and women..!!
Dear ET,
Are you sure the country mentioned in above article is Pakistan! A country in which laws are humiliated like just eating a chewing gum! Does such a law really is enforced??
well and truly on the way to become a Saudi Arabia - minus the Oil!!
Lets ban all the cars, and ride only on camels.
Why should one share this information with the state! Are women not equal in Islam! Looking at another way, what will the govt do with this information. Saudi largesse! I recall when Zia ul Haq passed Hudood laws Saudis granted about $100m to Pakistan.
The protectorate of Overseas Pakistanis is as corrupt as any other government department, but then there are issues also. I was working and living with my family in Dubai and we wanted to bring a maid over to work for us. But we could not as visas were not issued to single women from Pakistan as they said that in many cases women were brought and forced into prostitution in the UAE. This is just one example... but yes we need to find an amicable solution for the genuine cases.
Just take them to court
@Prouder Still: I endorsed Proud to be Muslim, I'm well educated and I do all what you mentioned. So what now? Does this make me a hard liner? The liberals in this country need to change their mindset - they should stand up for education in this country rather than west-like freedom of women.
@Proud to be Muslim: Our religion also tells us to pray 5 times a day, help our brothers and sisters, perform random acts of kindness and to obtain knowledge no matter how far one needs to go.
Why are the only rules being applied in Pakistan pertaining to women?
If women refuse to marry they're killed.
If they ask for a divorce they're killed.
Sometimes the only option is to leave Pakistan and if that too is curtailed we might as well go back to killing baby girls.
Pakistan is now truly Arab.
I don't know about the immigration personnel's' hand greasing but it is mandatory on our religion that every woman should seek the permission of her husband before even stepping out of her home.
Don't tell me it is one of the GREAT gifts of Zia ul Haq.
Why they don't view it with optimism. If a women is travelling alone then obviously she would had informed her family members (or mahram) of her travel plans. Who are they to question that to women? Who has given officials the right to ask to such persoanl questions?
What a despicable state of affairs. I strongly protest against this active attempt to emulate saudi arabia in every walk of life.
Take them to court for this.