KHYBER: Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has installed visa verification system at the Torkham zero point in order to check the illegal entry of Afghan nationals to Pakistan.

FIA Assistant Director Yasar Arafat informed mediapersons here on Monday that the new system would facilitate easy entry of Afghans with valid travel documents to Pakistan, while also discouraging and effectively preventing human trafficking via the Torkham border.

He said that an organised group of human smugglers was involved in bringing in Afghans without legal travel documents through alternate routes, which was a huge security risk.

He said such Afghan nationals or other suspected persons would easily dodge the immigration process at the arrival hall. He said the installation of new visa verification system at the zero point would enable the immigration staff to check and detect fake travel documents while also expediting the process of genuine travellers and minimising the risk of entry of suspected persons with dubious travel documents.

Meanwhile, customs staff seized smuggled Indian medicines worth Rs2 million from a truck at the Torkham border. Custom officials said that the medicines were concealed under soapstone, which was imported from Afghanistan. The truck driver was arrested and vehicle impounded.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2023