KARACHI: The federal government has signalled a tougher stance on international travel compliance, with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi stating that no individual would be allowed to damage the country’s image while travelling abroad.
The statements were made during the minister’s visit to Jinnah International Airport, according to a report broadcast by state-run Radio Pakistan.
The visit appeared routine on the surface, the statements that followed pointed to a broader shift in enforcement at Pakistan’s airports one that could have far-reaching implications for outbound travel.
In this sense, Naqvi said passengers carrying unverified or illegal documents would not be permitted to travel overseas.
He stressed that such measures were aimed at safeguarding national credibility and ensuring that only properly documented travellers were allowed to depart.
The interior minister also warned that professional beggars attempting to travel abroad under the guise of regular passengers would be offloaded and subjected to legal action.
Naqvi sought to reassure legitimate travellers. He made it clear that individuals holding valid travel documents had not been stopped in the past and would not be stopped in the future.
The minister praised officers of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), particularly the Immigration Wing, for strengthening document verification procedures and maintaining what he described as an effective checking process at airports.
The latest comments come weeks after Naqvi chaired a high-level meeting to review the performance of the FIA’s Immigration Wing, during which he ordered stricter screening of travel documents at all airports.
The government insists the policy is clear, questions remain about how these instructions will be implemented on the ground and whether passengers will see tangible changes in the coming weeks.
