ISLAMABAD: The Federal Government on Friday announced a major escalation in its crackdown on passengers attempting to travel abroad using fake or incomplete documents, following a rise in incidents involving forged visas and unauthorised travel papers. The decision comes amid ongoing efforts to curb illegal migration, particularly after last year’s Greece boat tragedy, which resulted in dozens of Pakistani deaths and put global scrutiny on human smuggling networks.
In recent weeks, several passengers have been offloaded from international flights at major airports despite carrying what appeared to be valid documents. Authorities say these actions are part of a broader campaign targeting fraudulent visas, forged travel papers and the agents involved in the illegal migration trade.
At a high-level meeting chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain, the government decided to overhaul the existing protector and immigration systems. The ministers ordered comprehensive reforms aimed at making the protector issuance process foolproof and more transparent, especially for individuals traveling on labour visas.
The interior minister directed relevant departments to submit final recommendations within seven days. He also announced the launch of an AI-based pilot application in Islamabad starting January, designed to help authorities pre-screen passengers and determine eligibility before they attempt to travel. The system will identify incomplete documentation, forged visas and other irregularities in advance, significantly reducing illegal departures.
Minister Naqvi further warned that individuals deported from other countries for illegal travel would not be able to obtain visas again once their passports were cancelled. He emphasized that there would be zero tolerance for fake visas, forged documents and the agent mafias facilitating them. He added that Pakistan is engaging with multiple countries to improve the ranking of the green passport, noting that illegal migration damages national reputation and affects genuine travelers.
Chaudhry Salik Hussain stressed the need for a transparent, modern protector system, especially for Pakistanis seeking overseas employment. He reaffirmed the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis’ commitment to working closely with the interior ministry to strengthen immigration procedures and streamline the issuance of valid labour documentation.
The meeting also reviewed ongoing actions against individuals traveling with incomplete papers and those staying illegally in Pakistan. Officials discussed e-driving licences, protector stamps and improvements in overall immigration processes to ensure better facilitation for lawful travelers while blocking attempts at illegal migration.
