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Naqvi Orders Crackdown on Visa Agents, Says Genuine Travellers Must Not Be Stopped
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi says no traveller with valid documents should be stopped at airports, orders crackdown on visa agents exploiting people amid migrant-smuggling concerns.
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by Muhammad Hashir
2025-11-29
Naqvi Orders Crackdown on Visa Agents, Says Genuine Travellers Must Not Be Stopped

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday emphasised that no passenger possessing genuine and complete travel documents should be prevented from flying abroad, as he visited Islamabad International Airport to meet travellers and address complaints regarding offloading incidents.

In recent months, multiple reports emerged of passengers being barred from boarding flights despite holding valid documentation. The surge in scrutiny followed intensified crackdowns on migrant smuggling operations after the tragic Greece boat disaster last year, which claimed the lives of several Pakistanis.

Naqvi Meets Travellers, Orders Inquiry

In a post shared on X, Naqvi stated that he visited the airport to listen to passengers' concerns firsthand.

He said he had ordered a strict crackdown on visa agents exploiting citizens desperate to travel abroad. He also took “serious notice” of a November 7 complaint about low staffing at immigration counters and directed an immediate inquiry, including a review of CCTV footage.

“No passenger with genuine and complete documents should ever be stopped from travelling,” Naqvi said, adding that individuals attempting to travel using fake or unverified documents would not be allowed under any circumstances, as such actions harmed Pakistan’s international reputation.

He warned that the “agent mafias” playing with people’s futures for profit would face zero tolerance.

FIA Clarification on Offloading

On Thursday, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) clarified that passengers were only being offloaded if they lacked valid travel documents or were suspected of collaborating with migrant smugglers.

The FIA also initiated legal action against individuals spreading false information on social media regarding offloading procedures.

Investigations Already Underway

Earlier this month, FIA Director General Riffat Mukhtar acknowledged that incidents of passengers being prevented from boarding had been reported at Lahore and Karachi airports. He said that investigations were ongoing to determine the reasons behind those occurrences.

The latest directives by the interior minister aim to balance strict action against illegal travel networks while ensuring that legitimate travellers are not inconvenienced.
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