National Assembly Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development convened on Wednesday to discuss the rising number of passengers being prevented from boarding flights and to review the operational performance of Community Welfare Attachés (CWAs) assisting Pakistanis abroad. Chaired by Syed Rafiullah, the session focused on policy gaps, procedural challenges, and potential reforms aimed at ensuring smoother overseas travel and enhanced support for Pakistani citizens.
During the meeting, Director-General of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Raja Riffat Mukhtar briefed committee members on airport operations and offloading statistics, revealing that 66,154 passengers were denied boarding in 2025, nearly double the 35,000 offloaded last year. A majority of these passengers, approximately 51,000, faced offloading due to questionable travel documents, mostly related to work, tourist, or Umrah visas. The DG highlighted concerns over illegal migration and organized begging rings, emphasizing that deportations, including 56,000 beggars from Saudi Arabia, are necessary to protect Pakistan’s international reputation. He also noted that visa restrictions are increasingly enforced in the UAE and raised awareness about emerging migration trends toward Africa and Southeast Asia, including Cambodia and Thailand.
While acknowledging the importance of strict enforcement, committee members stressed the need for transparent grievance mechanisms for passengers offloaded incorrectly. They urged the FIA and Ministry of Interior to implement clear Standard Operating Procedures and establish visible airport-level complaint systems. Technological enhancements were also highlighted, including the establishment of a risk-analysis unit and development of an “IMMI” mobile application to monitor immigration procedures in real time. Members emphasized that linking FIA systems with the Protectorate/E-Protector platform could further improve pre-departure verification and reduce operational errors.
The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis presented updates on CWAs, who handled over 55,000 welfare cases in 2025, including more than 30,000 assisted repatriations, 3,400 death-related interventions, and thousands of prison visits and legal aid support cases. Committee members commended the CWAs’ efforts in issuing emergency travel documents, facilitating repatriations, and coordinating legal assistance. However, they noted ongoing challenges such as passport confiscation, employer resistance, language barriers, and limited access to remote labor camps. Recommendations included improvements in pre-departure orientation, contract validation, employer engagement, and the establishment of a dedicated legal aid panel at mission posts.
To enhance accountability and operational efficiency, the committee directed the Ministry to provide detailed station-wise performance reports for all Gulf CWAs, including case summaries, staffing, and resourcing needs. A plan for ten new mission stations was requested, alongside immediate reforms including publicly accessible SOPs for offloaded passengers and full disclosure of CWA performance metrics in the Gulf. These measures aim to strengthen Pakistan’s support network for overseas citizens and ensure consistent assistance for all travelers while maintaining compliance with international regulations.
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