Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said that no passenger with genuine and complete documents should be stopped from travelling abroad, addressing growing concerns over alleged offloading incidents at Pakistani airports.
During his visit to Islamabad Airport on Saturday, Naqvi expressed concern over reports of passengers being denied boarding despite holding valid travel papers. He also ordered a crackdown on visa agents exploiting travellers for financial gain, highlighting the government’s commitment to protecting citizens from fraud.
Taking immediate notice of a passenger complaint from November 7 about low staffing at immigration counters, the minister directed an urgent inquiry and review of CCTV footage to ensure smooth airport operations.
“No passenger with genuine and complete documents should ever be stopped from travelling,” Naqvi stated in a post on X. He added that anyone attempting to travel using fake or unverified documents will face strict action, as such practices harm Pakistan’s international reputation.
The Interior Minister warned that agent mafias playing with people’s futures for money will face zero tolerance, underlining the government’s stern stance against human smuggling.
Amid rising rumours of passenger offloading, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) clarified on Thursday that no passengers were being denied boarding at Lahore Airport. “Even immigration authorities cannot stop passengers with legal and complete documents,” said FIA Lahore Zone Director Captain (retd) Ali Zia. He confirmed that only those with incomplete or suspicious documents are stopped after due profiling.
The FIA official also addressed misleading social media posts, noting that some individuals attempt to travel illegally using women as shields or fake company documents. “The public is requested not to listen to such rumours, as unrest is being deliberately created,” he added.
These measures come in the wake of increasing human smuggling cases and tragic incidents where Pakistanis lost their lives attempting to travel abroad illegally. The UK Home Office recently reported that Pakistanis remain the top nationality among asylum applicants in 2024-25, with 11,048 people, accounting for 10.1% of total applications.
