Pakistan offloads 51,000 travelers, flags mass deportations in illegal migration crackdown

Pakistan offloaded 51,000 travelers from outbound flights this year and faced large-scale deportations of its citizens abroad, lawmakers were told Wednesday, as authorities detailed an aggressive crackdown on illegal migration, visa abuse and organized begging networks.

The disclosures were made during a briefing to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Rights by the director general of the Federal Investigation Agency.

The FIA chief said Saudi Arabia alone deported 24,000 Pakistanis this year for begging. Dubai sent back 6,000 people, while Azerbaijan deported 2,500 on similar charges.

Officials told lawmakers that, cumulatively, Saudi Arabia has deported 56,000 Pakistani nationals over recent years for begging.

Deportations and offloading surge

The FIA chief said offloading and tighter screening had helped Pakistan drop out of the top five source countries for illegal migration to Europe.

About 8,000 Pakistanis traveled illegally to Europe last year, a figure expected to fall to around 4,000 this year, the official said.

Improved enforcement has also contributed to Pakistan’s passport ranking rising to 92 from 118, lawmakers were told.

Screening, visas and misuse

Offloading decisions were based on documentation checks, data analysis and online verification, according to the briefing.

Officials said many offloaded passengers lacked basic information about their declared courses, universities or jobs. Others attempted to travel with incomplete or misleading details arranged through agents.

Most offloaded travelers were holding visit, Umrah or work visas, the committee was told.

Some travelers attempted to misuse religious travel, with several offloaded after being found carrying documents showing plans to move onward to Europe under the guise of performing Umrah.

Concerns were also raised about routes through Southeast Asia.

Of 24,000 Pakistanis who traveled to Cambodia this year, 12,000 have not returned, officials said.

In Myanmar, 4,000 Pakistanis traveled on tourist visas, with 2,500 still unaccounted for.

Enforcement, technology and routes

The FIA told lawmakers that a total of 8.5 million Pakistanis traveled abroad this year.

During the same period, 226 criminal cases were registered against those involved in illegal migration.

Authorities also arrested 450 people over the past three months while attempting to cross into Iran illegally.

Officials disclosed that Bangladeshi nationals were using Pakistani tourist visas to attempt illegal entry into Europe.

A total of 170 people were deported this year over fake documents, down from 287 last year, the committee was told.

Officials said no traveler had been cleared under political or VIP pressure.

They added that 180 FIA officials had been dismissed from service for corruption.

The committee was informed that all major airports had been linked with the Immigration Data Management System II and Pakistan’s NADRA database.

Cameras have been installed at immigration counters, with real-time monitoring from FIA headquarters.

Artificial intelligence is being used to flag suspicious cases, reducing human discretion in clearance decisions, officials said.

An immigration mobile application is set to be launched in mid-January, allowing outbound passengers to obtain immigration clearance up to 24 hours before departure.

Officials also cited emerging routes through Africa.

Pakistan’s ambassador in Zimbabwe has reported illegal onward movement to Europe via Ethiopia and Zambia, lawmakers were told.

Staffing shortages at immigration counters, particularly in Islamabad, remain a challenge.

Police, including female officers, have been temporarily deployed to assist immigration staff.

In one case highlighted to the committee, a fake football club sent a “team” to Japan, including a disabled individual.

Investigations revealed a similar incident in 2022, officials said.

The FIA warned that unverified reports circulating on social media had created fear and confusion among travelers.

Officials stressed that the system was increasingly data-driven and rule-based.