ISLAMABAD:
The director general of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Riffat Mukhtar, has said that the agency is investigating reports of workers being offloaded at airports.
According to a statement issued by the agency, the FIA chief stated that during a meeting chaired by the Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain on Thursday.
Over the past few months, several incidents have been reported where travelers were offloaded from flights at various airports due to suspicion, despite having valid travel documents.
During the meeting, the minister was informed about such incidents.
DG FIA Mukhtar informed the meeting participants that incidents of workers being unloaded had been reported at Lahore and Karachi airports and that investigations were underway.
“If any FIA officials are found involved, strict action will be taken against them,” the statement quoted him as saying.
While addressing the participants, Minister Hussain pointed out that workers were offloaded at various airports despite having work visas and protection certificates.
“Pakistanis traveling abroad for work are highly respected by us and no one will be allowed to illegally stop workers at airports,” the minister said, according to the statement.
Overseas Pakistanis, he said, send foreign remittances to Pakistan, which drives the national economy. The minister directed DG FIA to immediately resolve the issue and directed that no work visa holders should be unloaded at airports in future.
According to the statement, no new conditions have been imposed by the FIA on people traveling abroad on work visas, nor has any new requirement to obtain a statement from an official been introduced.
A new digital system will soon be introduced through which workers can complete their immigration online before departure.
