Dubai: Pakistani citizens travelling abroad for employment are now facing unexpected hurdles as the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) enforces a new rule requiring government verification before departure.
Under the updated regulation, not officially announced yet, anyone leaving Pakistan for work must present an affidavit signed by a Grade 18 or 19 government officer. The affidavit must confirm that the traveller intends to work legally in the destination country and will not attempt to travel to Europe illegally.
Chaos at airports
The rule has caused chaos at major airports, including Lahore, where hundreds of passengers, many with valid tickets and complete employment documents, have been stopped from boarding flights, reported mainstream Pakistani media.
Officials say the measure was prompted by past cases in which workers initially travelling to destinations such as Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, or Thailand later tried to reach Europe through Libya or Baku.
FIA immigration teams report offloading nearly 150 travellers within a single week. An officer at Lahore Airport confirmed that 26 individuals were previously caught attempting illegal entry into Europe despite holding valid work or visit visas.
Tags:
Subscribe To Get Update Latest Blog Post
No Credit Card Required