💼 Overseas Workers in Shock! FIA demands govt officer affidavit — hundreds stopped from leaving Pakistan

ISLAMABAD – The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has introduced new travel regulations requiring all Pakistanis heading abroad for employment to obtain official verification from a government officer before departure.

Under the updated procedure, individuals seeking jobs overseas must now present an affidavit signed by a Grade 18 or Grade 19 officer confirming their intention to work legally. The move, authorities say, aims to curb human trafficking and illegal migration under the guise of work visas.

Hundreds Offloaded Despite Valid Travel Papers

The enforcement of the rule has led to chaos at major airports, particularly in Lahore, where hundreds of passengers have reportedly been offloaded in recent days. Many travellers complained that they were stopped despite having valid tickets, work visas, and all required documents.

“We spent hundreds of thousands of rupees arranging our tickets and paperwork to secure jobs abroad and support our families back home,” said one frustrated passenger. “Now we’re being stopped without any valid reason — this is unfair.”

FIA Defends the New Policy

FIA officials defended the crackdown, stating that it follows multiple incidents where individuals travelled to countries such as Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Thailand under work or visit visas but later attempted to enter Europe illegally through routes like Libya or Baku.

An immigration officer at Lahore Airport revealed that 26 such cases had been detected recently. “Passengers must now provide a verified affidavit guaranteeing that they will work only at their designated locations abroad and will not attempt to travel illegally to Europe,” the official explained. “Only those meeting these conditions are permitted to leave the country.”

Concerns Over Practicality of the Rule

The new policy has drawn strong criticism from travellers and employment agencies alike. Many argue that expecting a government officer to vouch for an individual’s future actions is unreasonable and causes unnecessary hardship for legitimate workers.

“Our documentation is complete, and we’ve paid all government fees,” said another traveller. “Stopping us despite legal compliance makes no sense.”

Officials Deploy Teams to Ease Process

To address mounting frustration, the Protectorate of Emigrants has deployed inspectors at airports nationwide to help verify documents and facilitate genuine job seekers.

According to Immigration Officer Owais at Lahore Airport, passengers traveling through the Overseas Employment Corporation (OEC) are being allowed to proceed smoothly, while those associated with private recruitment agencies must undergo additional verification from authorised officers before boarding.

The FIA maintains that the policy aims to safeguard Pakistan’s global reputation and protect citizens from falling victim to human traffickers, though for many workers, the new rules have become yet another obstacle in their pursuit of better livelihoods abroad.