Pakistan to end off-loading of overseas jobseekers at airports by January

The government of Pakistan has announced steps to address the off-loading of Pakistani jobseekers at airports, with new standard operating procedures expected to be finalized by January 2026.

The move follows months of reported incidents in which travelers were off-loaded from flights despite holding valid travel documents.

The actions came after a crackdown on migrant smuggling launched in the wake of the 2024 Greece boat tragedy that claimed several Pakistani lives.

Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain said on Monday the government is taking urgent measures to stop the off-loading of Pakistani passengers traveling abroad for employment.

He was speaking at a ceremony held in connection with International Migrants Day. The minister said safe, regular and legal overseas employment remains a top priority of the government and noted that migrants play a vital role in global economic and social development.

He said nearly 12 million Pakistanis are currently working abroad and contributing significantly to the national economy through remittances.

More than 700,000 Pakistanis went overseas for employment during the current year, he added.

Chaudhry Salik Hussain said the government is taking steps to ensure the protection and rights of migrants, adding that skill development programs are creating better employment opportunities for Pakistanis abroad.

He said the National Skills Passport has facilitated overseas employment for skilled workers.

Referring to recent incidents, the minister acknowledged that several Pakistanis traveling abroad for employment had been off-loaded at airports over the past few weeks.

He said high-level meetings were held between the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis to address the issue, with the interior minister also in attendance.

The minister said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has constituted a high-level committee to resolve the matter.

He expressed confidence that by January the issue of off-loading of Pakistani jobseekers at airports would be effectively addressed.

He said comprehensive SOPs are being developed in coordination with all relevant stakeholders to prevent such incidents and ensure a smoother and more dignified travel process for overseas workers.

What's the issue?

Over the past several months, a growing number of Pakistani jobseekers travelling abroad for employment have faced off-loading at international airports, often at the final stage of departure. Despite possessing visas, job offers, or travel documents, passengers were stopped by immigration authorities over documentation gaps, verification concerns, or suspicions of irregular migration.

These incidents caused financial loss, emotional distress, and reputational harm to travelers, while also drawing public criticism over inconsistent enforcement and lack of clarity in immigration procedures.

The issue highlighted systemic coordination gaps among immigration authorities, overseas employment promoters, airlines, and relevant ministries.

Critics argued that checks which could be completed earlier in the migration process were instead being carried out at airports, leading to last-minute disruptions. The repeated off-loading incidents raised concerns about migrant protection, transparency, and Pakistan’s overseas employment framework, prompting the government to intervene and announce standardized procedures aimed at ensuring lawful travel while preventing exploitation and irregular migration.

Last month, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, during a visit to Islamabad airport, said no passenger with “genuine and complete documents” should be barred from traveling abroad.

On November 27, the Federal Investigation Agency said people were only being off-loaded or denied boarding if they lacked valid documents or were suspected of working with migrant smugglers.