ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control Mohsin Naqvi paid an unannounced visit to Islamabad International Airport, where he spent two hours reviewing immigration procedures and interacting with passengers departing for foreign destinations.
During the visit, Naqvi issued strict instructions for an immediate crackdown on visa agents involved in fraudulent activities, warning that no leniency would be shown to those exploiting citizens under the guise of overseas employment.
Naqvi also took serious notice of a complaint made by a passenger regarding inadequate staffing at immigration counters on November 7. He ordered a formal inquiry and directed officials to review all circumstances through CCTV footage.
“You will not have grounds for such complaints in the future,” the minister assured passengers and airport officials.
The interior minister emphasized that no passenger carrying complete and valid travel documents should be stopped from traveling. However, he stressed that those attempting to travel on fake or unverified documents damage Pakistan’s reputation abroad a situation he said could not be allowed under any circumstances.
“Agents driven by greed are playing with the futures of innocent people and tarnishing the country’s image,” Naqvi said, adding that those luring citizens with false promises of overseas employment would face stern action.
He reiterated that travel on unverified documents would not be permitted and that the government is determined to curb the activities of agent mafias involved in human smuggling and document fraud.
It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistani nationals going abroad for work faced new difficulties as the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) 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 passengers, 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.
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