By Irum Saleem
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has intensified its scrutiny of Pakistani travelers heading to Baku and several other international destinations, implementing rigorous screening procedures at major airports across the country.
In a significant move, authorities have offloaded approximately 2,500 passengers from flights at Lahore airport within a month, citing concerns over potential illegal immigration. Young Pakistanis, particularly those perceived as potential immigrants, are facing increased restrictions, with many being barred from traveling to destinations such as Azerbaijan (Baku), Turkey, Egypt, and Malaysia.
The crackdown has also affected the national flag carrier, as Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has reportedly suspended its flights to Baku. The decision is likely a response to the growing concerns over human trafficking and illegal migration networks exploiting these travel routes.
Tour operators have expressed deep frustration over the situation, decrying significant financial losses due to the restrictions. Many businesses that facilitate legal tourism are struggling to cope with the sudden drop in demand, as prospective travelers face heightened barriers.
The FIA’s intensified measures reflect the government’s commitment to curbing illegal migration and human smuggling. However, they have also sparked concerns among legitimate travelers and businesses dependent on tourism. Industry stakeholders are calling for a more balanced approach to ensure that genuine tourists and business travelers do not suffer undue hardships.
Dawn also reported that following the boat capsizing incidents in Europe in which several Pakistanis lost their lives, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has introduced “rigorous screening” at all airports of the country primarily to stop potential illegal immigrants from reaching transitory destinations by air.
Only at Lahore airport, the FIA offloaded 2,500 passengers during the last one month or so for having “fake, suspicious, or incomplete documents”. Even some passengers traveling on genuine documents were also offloaded by the FIA, suspecting them to be illegal immigrants.
Most of the offloaded passengers were to leave for Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq, Malaysia, Senegal, Ethiopia, Mauritania, Turkey, Qatar, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Kenya, Egypt and Libya. The FIA has identified these countries as a transit destinations of the illegal immigrants for their further travel to European or other developed countries. The passengers were mostly traveling to these countries on visit, tourist, Umrah and student visas.
“Lahore airport authorities are conducting rigorous screening of passengers under the directives of FIA Lahore chief Sarfraz Khan Virk. As many as 2,501 passengers have been offloaded due to fake, suspicious, or incomplete documents since this January,” an FIA spokesperson said.
“Operations against human trafficking networks have been intensified as FIA remains committed to a zero-tolerance policy against this heinous crime,” he said.
Owing to the rigorous screening at the international airports of the country, even the genuine passengers traveling with legal documents and visit visas of European, Central Asian and the Middle Eastern countries are facing severe hardships.
The tour operators have also urged the authorities concerned not to stop passengers on genuine visas as it is hurting their business. The FIA recently dismissed 13 of its officials and stopped promotions of three constables said to be involved in the Greek boat tragedy in 2024.
Similarly, 65 FIA officials last month were blacklisted for posting at any immigration check post and anti-human trafficking circles in the country in the light of the inquiry into the Greece boat tragedy in which several Pakistanis had lost their lives.
The FIA had begun the purge following the capsizing of a boat carrying illegal immigrants near Greece in December last year. As per an estimate, more than 80 Pakistanis drowned in the accident, while 36 were rescued. The remaining were presumed dead.
In response to the tragedy, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had ordered the authorities to take action against human smugglers and officials aiding them. Since then, a countrywide crackdown has been launched against human smugglers, leading to the arrests of dozens of suspects. PAK DESTINY
