Islamabad, November 6, 2025: Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain on Thursday took notice of reports that several overseas Pakistani workers were offloaded at airports across the country despite holding valid work visas, and directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to immediately resolve the issue and ensure such incidents are not repeated.
The minister’s intervention came after media reports suggested that a new rule required travelers leaving Pakistan for employment abroad to present a sworn affidavit, signed by a senior government officer, confirming their intention to work legally in their destination country and not engage in illegal migration to a third state.
The alleged measure was reportedly part of efforts to curb human smuggling. However, reports indicated that several legitimate workers were offloaded in recent days under the new arrangement.
“No one will be allowed to unlawfully stop workers at airports,” Hussain said, stressing that overseas Pakistanis contribute significantly to the national economy through foreign remittances and “deserve utmost respect.”
FIA Director General Riffat Mukhtar confirmed that incidents had been reported at Lahore and Karachi airports and were under investigation. He also clarified that no new travel conditions had been imposed on work visa holders and denied reports of any requirement for affidavits signed by government officials before departure.
“If any FIA officials are found involved in offloading workers, strict action will be taken against them,” Mukhtar said, adding that a digital immigration system was being developed to allow workers to complete pre-departure formalities online.
The minister further stated that the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and the FIA were jointly preparing standard operating procedures (SOPs) to prevent such incidents in the future and facilitate smooth travel for legitimate overseas workers.
