ISLAMABAD: Pakistani nationals going abroad for work are now facing new difficulties as the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has implemented a new rule, under which government verification is mandatory before travelling.
According to the unofficially implemented rule, which has not yet been officially announced, everyone going abroad for work will have to submit an affidavit, attested by the signature of a government officer of grade 18 or 19.
The affidavit must state that the traveller will work legally in the destination country and will not attempt to travel illegally to Europe, according to media reports.
The rule caused severe chaos at major airports, including Lahore, where hundreds of passenger, despite having valid tickets and complete documents, were prevented from boarding flights.
Officials say the move follows previous cases in which workers set off for countries like Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain or Thailand but later tried to reach Europe via Libya or Baku.
FIA immigration teams offloaded around 150 passengers in just one week. A Lahore airport official confirmed that 26 people had been caught trying to enter Europe illegally despite having legal visas earlier.
According to officials, the rule is aimed at curbing human trafficking and illegal migration, but passengers say the move is unfair and disturbing.
“We spent lakhs of rupees on tickets and documents. Being stopped despite having all the paperwork is complete causes unnecessary stress and financial loss,” said one affected passenger.
The government has deployed officials from the Protectorate of Emigrants at airports to facilitate the process.
Travellers travelling through the Overseas Employment Corporation (OEC) are getting immediate clearance, while those travelling through private agencies are having to go through additional verification steps.
