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A new FIA immigration rule has created major hurdles for Pakistanis traveling abroad for employment, with hundreds reportedly offloaded at major airports despite having complete travel and work documents.
The Federal Investigation Agency has introduced a strict requirement for people traveling overseas for employment, making it compulsory for them to obtain verification from a senior government officer. As a result of the new FIA immigration rule, hundreds of passengers have been offloaded at Lahore Airport and other airports across the country.
Many travelers say they were stopped from departing even though they held expensive tickets and complete employment papers. Several passengers expressed frustration, arguing that they fulfilled all legal requirements yet were still prevented from boarding their flights. One traveler stated that people spend significant amounts on documents and airfare to build a better future for their families, but they are being stopped on mere suspicion.
Under the revised process, anyone traveling abroad for work must now present an affidavit signed by a Grade 18 or 19 government officer confirming that they are going for lawful employment. To help manage the verification process, the Protectorate of Emigrants has deployed inspectors at airports who are responsible for checking documents and assisting legitimate workers.
Despite this support, FIA immigration personnel continue to offload passengers at Lahore and other airports. Reports indicate that around 150 individuals were stopped within one week. Officials say the move comes after several cases surfaced involving people who traveled to Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain or Thailand on work or visit visas but later tried to reach Europe illegally through routes involving Libya or Baku.
New Affidavit Requirement Introduced for Workers
An immigration officer at Lahore Airport said that 26 individuals were recently caught attempting illegal entry into Europe after initially departing Pakistan for employment or tourism. He explained that the new procedure requires passengers to submit an affidavit guaranteeing that they will stay at their declared workplace and will not attempt to enter Europe through illegal channels. Only those who meet this requirement will be allowed to leave the country.
The new rule has drawn strong criticism from affected travelers, who argue that it is unfair to expect anyone to take responsibility for another person’s actions. They maintain that if their documents are complete and fees are paid, they should not be stopped from traveling.
To ease the situation, officers from the Protectorate of Emigrants have been stationed at airports to verify paperwork and facilitate genuine workers. According to immigration officer Owais at Lahore Airport, individuals traveling through the Overseas Employment Corporation are being cleared, while those linked to private overseas employment agencies will be allowed to proceed only after verification by authorized officials.
Many travelers and rights advocates argue that the FIA immigration rule is punishing legitimate workers instead of addressing the root causes of illegal migration. They contend that forcing citizens to secure affidavits from senior officers places an unreasonable burden on ordinary people who already meet all legal requirements. Critics say the rule not only disrupts the lives of genuine overseas workers but also risks creating opportunities for exploitation, further slowing down the already complex emigration process.
