Prism Reflections: Preparation doesn’t travel on a Pakistani passport

Travelling with a weak passport means dreaming with strings attached. We prepare for the worst-case scenarios, rehearse the best answers, and never fully allow ourselves to feel the excitement. The anxiety is palpable: will this country let me in?

But what do we do when the worst of the worst happens? It did to Zara*, and she couldn’t do anything. She was born in Pakistan but has been living in Dubai with her husband for several years. The couple are UAE residents on paper and fit the profile of ‘legitimate’ tourists.

This year, they booked a seven-night trip to Georgia. All their documents were complete, the tickets were booked, and the hotel was reserved. For green passport holders, Georgia offers visa on arrival.

Zara and her husband decided to carry $1,000 in cash each. They had heard stories of people deported from Georgia or refused entry over insufficient funds. The couple did not want to take any chances.

At Tbilisi International Airport, they waited in a long immigration queue. But as soon as........

© Dawn Prism