World Immigration News

Pakistan forms committee to streamline immigration amid passenger offloading issue

Release Date: 2025-12-16
Media: ARAB NEWS
Summary: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered the creation of a 14-member committee to reform immigration procedures following reports that passengers with valid travel documents were being arbitrarily offloaded at airports. The move comes amid public backlash and heightened scrutiny during a broader crackdown on illegal immigration and forged documents.

The committee, led by the federal minister for overseas Pakistanis, will focus on reducing discretionary decision-making in the issuance and renewal of the mandatory Protectorate of Emigrants (POE) stamp required for overseas employment. Its mandate includes developing a fully digitized, end-to-end online system for issuing and renewing POE stamps, monitoring worker satisfaction, and aligning procedures with international best practices.

The panel is expected to submit its recommendations to the prime minister within three weeks. Meanwhile, authorities have been instructed not to offload passengers who hold valid documents, and the government has intensified action against visa fraud, particularly cases that could harm Pakistan’s international reputation or affect legitimate workers and religious pilgrims.
Tags: Pakistan

Released on

Article Title