- The protection system must be completely foolproof, says Naqvi.
- Those expelled will no longer be able to receive a visa.
- The National Police Bureau will issue a uniform international driving license.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Friday announced the launch of an artificial intelligence-based application as a pilot project to combat illegal immigration and crack down on fake travel documents.
He was speaking while co-chairing a meeting with Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain, during which the two discussed “immigration reforms” aimed at making life easier for citizens and improving the country’s image internationally.
Naqvi said the AI-based app would help authorities determine “who is fit to travel and who is not”. He said the measures were aimed at stopping illegal immigration and there would be zero tolerance towards fake visas and agent mafias.
During the meeting, it was decided to crack down on those traveling abroad with fake documents and launch a crackdown on elements and agent networks involved in the fake visa trade. Federal ministers also ordered that final recommendations on the reform package be submitted within seven days.
Naqvi said the system of issuing Protectors (emigration clearances for Pakistanis going abroad on work visas) would be made foolproof, while reforms would be introduced in the broader immigration system to facilitate passengers. He added that once the deportees’ passports were cancelled, the government would ensure that they were no longer issued visas.
The Interior Minister further announced that a uniform international driving license would be issued by the National Police Bureau. He said the government was in contact with other countries to improve the ranking of the green passport and warned that people traveling abroad by inappropriate means were damaging the country’s reputation.
“The purpose of immigration reforms is to provide comfort to the public and improve the global image,” Naqvi said.
Federal Minister Salik Hussain has stressed the need for authentic documents for those traveling on work visas, saying it is essential that their papers are genuine.
He assured that the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis would extend all possible cooperation to improve the Protector system and the immigration system.
