The minister warns that false documents will not be tolerated and orders that passengers’ complaints about lack of staff be investigated
Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi ordered a strict crackdown on visa agents exploiting travelers during an unannounced visit to Islamabad International Airport on Saturday, saying those with genuine documents should not be banned from traveling abroad.
“No passenger with authentic and complete documents should be prevented from travelling,” Naqvi said in a post on
I visited Islamabad airport today and met passengers traveling abroad to hear their concerns directly.
He ordered a strict crackdown on visa agents who exploit innocent people. Took serious note of a passenger’s complaint on November 7 about understaffing at immigration and… pic.twitter.com/dP29uZw2bB
—Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) November 29, 2025
“Mafias that play with people’s future in exchange for money will face zero tolerance,” the minister warned.
It also took note of a passenger complaint on November 7 about understaffing at immigration counters, and ordered an investigation into CCTV footage.
The news comes as the Federal Investigation Agency has stepped up operations against illegal migration after a series of interceptions at major airports involving forged documents and suspicions of internal collusion.
Immigration officers at the New Islamabad International Airport on Sunday disembarked Muhammad Usman, who was trying to travel to Europe on an Umrah visa. Authorities said he had been deported from Italy earlier this year, and a search of his mobile phone turned up a doctored resident card. Previously, an Afghan citizen was intercepted while traveling with a fake Greek resident card.
Read: The FIA intensifies the fight against illegal immigration after a series of interceptions at airports
Earlier this month, Naqvi and Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain paid an unannounced visit to Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport. Immigration agents stationed there had intercepted passengers who were allegedly trying to travel abroad illegally with the help of an insider.
During that visit, officials briefed ministers on a case where a passenger was prevented from traveling abroad as a driver because he lacked a valid driving license despite having “Protector” clearance. Minister Hussain ordered an investigation into the Protector’s verification system.
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Naqvi warned that illegal travel would not be tolerated and ordered strict legal action against any FIA officials involved in aiding illegal travel.
On Friday, FIA Director General Riffat Mukhtar Raja sacked three officials, including an inspector and a sub-inspector. The DG also imposed significant sanctions on four other officers for flawed investigations and misconduct.
