The federal government has decided to tighten action against people trying to travel abroad on fake documents, ordering a fresh crackdown on visa fraud and the agent mafia.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain presided over the meeting where the decision was made.
Officials agreed that in order to make travel easier for passengers, changes would be made to the immigration process and the present procedure for issuing protection must be made fully foolproof. Within a week, the ministries had requested final proposals.
Authorities were also directed to launch strict action against groups involved in selling fake visas.
An AI-based app is being launched as a pilot project to reduce illegal travel, Mohsin Naqvi told the meeting. He added that there will be no tolerance for fraudulent visas and the agent networks that support them, and that this system will assist in determining who is truly able to travel and who is not.
Additionally, he stated that deported individual’s passports would be revoked and that measures would be made to prevent them from receiving visas in the future. A unified international driving license will now be issued by the National Police Bureau.
Naqvi said people who go abroad through illegal routes damage Pakistan’s reputation, and that the reforms aim to both facilitate citizens and improve the country’s global standing.
The Minister for Overseas Pakistanis added that workers travelling on labour visas must carry genuine, verifiable documents, and said the ministry will fully assist in strengthening the protector and immigration systems.