ISLAMABAD, July 3: The government has asked the public to only contact licensed overseas employment promoters if they want to go abroad for work. “The information about genuineness of demand and licence of any agency may be confirmed from any protector of emigrants office located at Malakand, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Multan and Karachi or the bureau’s headquarters in Islamabad,” said a press release on Sunday.

It said 16 licences of the overseas employment promoters had been cancelled and their security amounts forfeited during the financial year 2004-2005 on the basis of reports of FIA and complaints lodged by the people.

“The government wants to boost the export of manpower in order to reduce unemployment in the country besides taking steps to check human trafficking.”