Islamabad, Oct 3: UAE Expat Recognized for Impeccable Driving Record, Encourages Overseas Pakistanis to Adhere to Road Safety Rules. This week, expat Muhammad Siddique Baksh, who was recently acknowledged by Dubai Police for having a “flawless” driving record with no traffic infractions for 55 years, urged other Pakistanis to abide by local laws, citing them as the key to unlocking “doors of bright opportunities” for him during his nearly six decades of residency in the.
The praise for Baksh follows extensive claims of a downward trend in Pakistani employment abroad because of their purported disregard for regional laws and customs. In July, Dr. Arshad Mahmood, the secretary of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, briefed the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis. This briefing was widely publicized. Said Pakistanis were stated to be responsible for 50% of the crime rate in the United Arab Emirates.
Over half of the 10 million Pakistanis living abroad reside in Gulf states, with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates long being the most popular destinations for Pakistani laborers. Additionally, the top two countries from which Pakistan receives remittances are Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
In a phone interview last week, Baksh, 84, said to Arab News, “I was never involved in any accidents during my 56 years in the UAE, never faced a traffic violation ticket or other legal issues.” Claiming that despite his advanced age of eighty-four, Dubai Police had granted him a five-year driving license renewal as compensation for his impeccable record.
A certificate of appreciation for “making the Pakistani community proud” was also given to him by Pakistan’s consulate general in the United Arab Emirates. Over his many years of living and working in the United Arab Emirates, Baksh claimed to have advised other Pakistani expats to follow local regulations.
“I always reminded them that following the law in the UAE gains you respect and creates doors to amazing opportunities,” he remarked. “If you obey the law, you will be respected by it wherever you go in the world.”
As a “exemplary law-abiding citizen,” Baksh said that UAE authorities had sent his case to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai. Baksh remarked, “I don’t know when it will happen, but meeting such a visionary leader will be a great honor.”
The foreigner sailed into the United Arab Emirates in 1968, three years before the emirates were established in 1971 as a unified federation consisting of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Umm Al Quwain, Sharjah, Fujairah, and Ajman. In 1972, Ras al Khaimah became the final member.
At the Al Nasser Engineering business in Dubai, Baksh began his career as a motor mechanic and eventually advanced to the position of foreman. After earning his engineering certification, he started working as a marine engineer at Port Rashid.
Following his retirement, he spent 16 years operating a business in Jebel Ali providing automobile parts and re-cushioning services. In his spare time, the father of five kids and one daughter paints. “I have seen the UAE go from a long desert to a cutting-edge, modern nation, and it was all made possible by the visionary leadership and unwavering respect for the rule of law,” the speaker stated.
