Islamabad, December 30, 2024: Pakistan has initiated the process of blocking the passports of 10,050 citizens involved in various crimes in Iran, according to the Ministry of Interior. These individuals faced charges including human trafficking, illegal residency, drug-related offenses, and extremism.
Over the past 18 months, Iran has deported more than 5,000 Pakistanis. Of these, over 4,000 were arrested for illegal border crossings. Passports of offenders have been blocked for 5–7 years as part of a federal government crackdown on international criminal activities.
In recent months, Pakistan has taken similar actions. In the UAE, passports of 2,470 individuals involved in drug offenses were blocked. In Iraq, 1,500 deportees faced similar penalties, with initial bans lasting seven years. In October, 4,000 Pakistanis detained in Saudi Arabia for crimes like begging had their passports blocked, with 60% hailing from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) reports that in 2024 alone, 10,454 Pakistanis were detained in Iran for illegal border crossings. This marks a sharp increase from 8,272 arrests in 2023. Over the past five years, 62,000 Pakistanis have been apprehended in Iran for illegal entry.
Most arrested individuals are from Punjab, with many crossing through unconventional routes in Balochistan’s border districts, including Chagai, Washuk, and Panjgur. Human traffickers often smuggle people from these areas into Iran and onward to Turkey and Greece. However, many are arrested or lose their lives during these dangerous journeys.
Officials note a shift in migration routes due to militant activities in Kech and Gwadar, pushing traffickers toward Chagai and Washuk. The crackdown underscores Pakistan’s intensified efforts to curb illegal migration and related crimes.Bottom of Form
