ISLAMABAD:
Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director General Riffat Mukhtar said the agency was investigating reports of workers being discharged at airports.
According to a statement issued by the agency, the FIA chief said this at a meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain on Thursday.
Over the past few months, numerous incidents have been reported involving travelers being disembarked from flights at various airports due to suspicion, despite having valid travel documents.
During the meeting, the minister was informed of these incidents.
DG FIA Mukhtar informed the meeting that incidents of unloading of workers had been reported at Lahore and Karachi airports and investigations were underway.
“If FIA officials are involved, strict action will be taken against them,” he said in the statement.
Addressing the participants, Minister Hussain pointed out that workers were being landed at different airports despite having work visas and protection certificates.
“Pakistanis going abroad for work are highly respected by us, and no one will be allowed to illegally arrest workers at airports,” the minister said, according to the statement.
Overseas Pakistanis, he said, send foreign remittances to Pakistan, which boosts the national economy. The minister asked DG FIA to immediately resolve the issue and ordered that no work visa holders be disembarked at airports in future.
According to the statement, no new conditions have been imposed by the FIA for those traveling abroad on a work visa, nor have any new requirements been introduced for obtaining an affidavit from a government official.
A new digital system will soon be implemented, through which workers will be able to finalize their immigration online before their departure.
