ISLAMABAD: The Government of Pakistan has announced a new travel directive under which overseas Pakistanis will no longer be permitted to travel to Pakistan using an invalid, expired, or cancelled National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP).
The decision has come into effect immediately and will apply to all passengers departing for Pakistan from foreign countries.
In this regard, as per the official directive, no passenger holding a non-valid, expired, or cancelled NICOP will be allowed to board a flight bound for Pakistan.
The move is aimed at ensuring strict compliance with the country’s travel and identity verification requirements.
The government has instructed all Zonal Directors concerned to immediately communicate the new policy to every airline operating flights to Pakistan.
In this sense, the authorities have also directed airline operators to enforce the instructions without exception and prevent passengers carrying invalid travel identification from boarding aircraft.
Officials said the directive has been implemented with immediate effect, leaving airlines responsible for verifying the validity of NICOP documents before allowing passengers to check in or board their flights.
The latest measure is expected to affect thousands of overseas Pakistanis who frequently travel to the country using NICOP as their primary identity document.
The travelers have been advised to ensure that their NICOP remains valid before making travel arrangements to avoid inconvenience, denied boarding, or disruption to their travel plans.
The government has focused on that compliance with the directive is mandatory for all airlines operating international flights to Pakistan. Relevant authorities are expected to monitor implementation to ensure that the new instructions are fully observed.
The announcement reflects the government’s continued efforts to strengthen identity verification procedures and maintain compliance with immigration and travel documentation regulations.
The directive is effective immediately, and airlines have been instructed to enforce the policy on all flights destined for Pakistan without delay.
