The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has introduced a new travel requirement for Pakistanis heading abroad for employment, mandating them to present an affidavit signed by a Grade 18 or 19 government officer before departure, The Express Tribune reported.
The affidavit serves as a formal declaration that the traveller will only work at their approved place of employment and will not attempt to enter Europe illegally through irregular migration routes. The policy, aimed at curbing human trafficking and illegal border crossings, has already led to strict enforcement at airports across Pakistan.
In the first week of implementation, FIA teams offloaded nearly 150 passengers from flights at Lahore and other airports for failing to produce the required affidavit. Officials stated that the decision was prompted by multiple cases where individuals initially travelled to destinations such as Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, or Thailand but later attempted to reach Europe via Libya or Baku.
Under the new rule, only passengers with verified affidavits are permitted to board flights. To streamline the process, the Protectorate of Emigrants has stationed inspectors at airports to assist legitimate overseas workers in completing the necessary verification.
Travellers using the government-run Overseas Employment Corporation (OEC) are reportedly facing fewer delays due to direct verification links, while those departing through private recruitment agencies have encountered longer processing times.
Despite the FIA’s justification, many passengers and recruitment agents have criticised the rule as cumbersome and unnecessary, arguing that it adds an extra bureaucratic layer for workers who already possess valid employment visas and travel documentation.
Officials, however, maintain that the measure is essential to prevent the misuse of work visas for illegal migration, a growing issue that has drawn scrutiny from European authorities and international organisations.
