ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday chaired a high-level meeting at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad to review measures aimed at curbing human trafficking, undocumented foreign travel, and weaknesses in Pakistan’s immigration and border management systems. The meeting focused on strengthening enforcement while ensuring that legitimate travelers are not inconvenienced by stricter controls.
During the briefing, the prime minister was informed about recent actions taken by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), including the arrest of 451 individuals involved in human trafficking and illegal migration networks. Officials said these operations have led to a noticeable decline in illegal travel, particularly to Europe.
Prime Minister Shehbaz also took note of inspections carried out by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi at major airports following complaints related to passenger offloading. He described the intervention as timely and necessary, saying it helped address genuine concerns raised by travelers and improved oversight of immigration procedures.
Emphasising a balanced approach, the prime minister directed authorities to ensure that passengers holding valid travel documents are treated fairly and are not unnecessarily delayed or harassed during enforcement operations against illegal travelers. He stressed the need to enhance the performance of the Protectorate of Immigrants and called for stronger coordination between the FIA and other relevant departments to facilitate smoother processing for citizens travelling abroad legally for work or other purposes.
The role of technology featured prominently in the discussion. Prime Minister Shehbaz urged officials to expand the use of digital tools to improve efficiency, transparency, and accountability within the immigration system. He also ordered strict action against corrupt elements within enforcement agencies, noting that 196 FIA officers and staff members have already been dismissed after being found guilty of corruption.
According to the FIA briefing, enhanced enforcement and screening measures have resulted in a 47 percent reduction in attempts by Pakistanis to travel illegally to Europe. Similar declines have also been recorded in attempts to travel to the United Kingdom and Gulf countries using forged or fraudulent documents. Authorities identified the misuse of work, tourist, and visit visas as a key challenge, along with rising incidents of offloading and deportation.
Officials said most deportations in recent months involved passengers returned from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Malaysia, and Oman. To address these trends, the FIA has established a dedicated Risk Assessment Unit that enables targeted passenger screening by integrating data on deported and illegal travelers into its systems.
Further reforms discussed at the meeting included plans to activate e-gates at airports and expand access to Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record databases, allowing authorities to flag suspicious travel documents before passengers arrive. Long-term measures also include the development of a mobile application to track passenger data and the restructuring of the FIA’s Integrated Border Management System and IT departments. Artificial intelligence tools are expected to be deployed to identify patterns linked to illegal travel and human trafficking.
The meeting was attended by senior federal ministers, including Azam Nazir Tarar, Ahad Khan Cheema, Attaullah Tarar, and Talal Chaudhry, along with other top officials. Authorities said the ongoing reforms aim to curb illegal migration and human trafficking while ensuring a smoother and more secure travel experience for law-abiding citizens.
