January 9, 2003	Thursday	Ziqa’ad 5, 1423

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PESHAWAR, Jan 8: The Federal Investigation Agency has asked the travel agencies to provide the agency complete information about the foreign travellers before issuing or confirming their tickets.

Sources in the FIA told Dawn here on Tuesday that a decision in this respect had been taken by the Interior Ministry with a view to curbing subversive activities in the country.

“The government is convinced that some foreign hands, particularly from the neighbouring country, are involved in the recent spate of terrorism in several parts of the country,” the sources maintained.

They said that the Interpol had also sent a list of suspects to the interior ministry for special check on their movements in Pakistan.

“We don’t know whether any of the Interpol suspects is in the country. But we will certainly share the information about the foreigners in Pakistan with the Interpol to help eradicate terrorism from the world,” the sources said.

“According to the interior ministry notification, the rule is applicable to all the foreigners, including American and European travellers,” they added.

In this connection, the sources maintained, the FIA passport cell had issued instructions to the travel agencies in the city and other parts of the province to provide to the Federal Investigation Agency complete data of foreigners before issuing or confirming their flight reservations.

“We have no system in the past to keep a data of the foreigners. But now the current situation in the country has compelled the government to maintain a record of all the incoming and outgoing foreigners,” they said.

The government had already installed the Personal Identification Secure Comparison and Evaluation System at four airports including, Islamabad, Peshawar, Lahore and Karachi to maintain a data about the incoming and outgoing passengers.

The government has also planned to install Pisces at Quetta and Multan airports and 14 other points along the Afghan border to tighten the security system in the country.