I RETURNED to Karachi from Sri Lanka on Sept 18 and noticed that our entire flight barring one or two people were unceremoniously herded through to the Red Channel. For many people who don’t take porters this means hauling your luggage on and off again.

A few arguments broke out between the customs staff and passengers tired by the long flight. The passengers were annoyed by the customs. Some passengers even complained of yet another of citizens’ rights being eroded. We went through it thinking it was a one-off incident. Since then, an increasing number of Pakistanis returning from international flights report the virtual closing down of the green channel in the country, or at least in Karachi.

The same thing happened to friends returning from Thailand on Sept 19, and passengers who returned from London and Turkey in the last few weeks have reported the same treatment.

The Federal Bureau of Revenue officials insist their policy remains the same --that genuine travellers can use the green channel which is technically about 70 per cent of the passengers. So why is the ground reality suddenly different?

Given that we are begging expatriate Pakistanis to invest here and to visit the country, and that the government keenly awaits foreign tourists, these moves are regressive and sure to offend visitors.

No wonder green passport holders are treated with contempt and suspicion in other countries. Are we now to be treated to more of the same when coming home?

Amber Kazmi
Karachi

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2018