Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took note of reports that passengers traveling abroad were being offloaded, and a committee was formed to investigate the matter.
The committee is headed by Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik and includes Federal Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja and Minister of State for Overseas Pakistanis Muhammad Awn Chaudhry.
The heads of the Pakistan Digital Authority and the National Information Technology Council are also part of the panel. Secretary Overseas Pakistanis, Secretary IT and Additional Secretary Home will also be members.
Representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NADRA and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) will be part of the committee. The commission will propose a new mechanism for people traveling abroad. It will also recommend harmonizing the system linked to protective stamps at the international level.
The commission is expected to submit its report to the prime minister within three weeks.
Read: Travelers with full documentation banned from traveling abroad
Unloading reports
Over the past few months, several reports have surfaced accusing the FIA of disembarking passengers at various airports in the country, despite having valid travel documents. Visa holders for Greece, Italy, Poland and Baku cannot travel to these countries.
Hundreds of Pakistanis, despite having visas and full travel documents, are forced to repeatedly visit the offices of the Emigrant Protector, but their documents are not “protected” for travel.
Visitors are told that “orders from above” prohibit the protection of travel documents for travelers going abroad to work as agricultural experts, drivers or cleaners. Previously, people traveling for Umrah or work in Dubai were blocked on suspicion.
Learn more: FIA investigates offloading of workers at airports
The FIA has dismissed the allegations as mere rumours. In late November, FIA Lahore Zonal Director Captain (retd) Ali Zia issued a detailed clarification in a video message. He said some elements use AI-generated videos and images to make it appear passengers are being disembarked for no reason.
However, reports suggest that these claims may be more than “just rumors.”
Now even those who paid visa fees in dollars, pounds or euros are barred from traveling to Europe. There are no written orders, only verbal instructions, and all offices of the Protector of the Land follow them.
