The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has enforced a new requirement for Pakistanis traveling abroad for employment, making it mandatory to obtain verification from a Grade 18 or 19 government officer before departure, The Express Tribune reported.
FIA officials have recently offloaded hundreds of passengers at Lahore and other airports across Pakistan for not meeting the new condition. Many of them held valid tickets and employment documents but were stopped from leaving the country.
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An immigration officer at Lahore Airport said travelers must now submit an affidavit signed by a Grade 18 or 19 officer, guaranteeing that they will stay at their stated place of employment and will not attempt to enter Europe illegally. “Only passengers carrying this affidavit will be allowed to travel,” the officer said.
According to FIA, the measure follows several incidents where individuals who initially traveled to Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, or Thailand for work later attempted to reach Europe illegally through Libya or Baku.
Passengers have criticized the new rule, calling it unfair and financially damaging. Meanwhile, the Protectorate of Emigrants has stationed officers at airports to verify documents and assist genuine workers. Officials said travelers going through the Overseas Employment Corporation (OEC) are being cleared after verification.
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