ISLAMABAD: While chairing a meeting to review the performance of the Immigration Wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Friday issued orders for strict screening of travel documents at airports.

The ongoing campaign to prevent illegal immigration and human smuggling, as well as actions against the professional beggar mafia, came under detailed discussion during the meeting.

The interior minister’s order came amid complaints of arbitrary offloading at airports despite travelers carrying valid documents.

In the first week of December, Naqvi had said that 50–70 passengers were being offloaded daily from flights to protect the country’s passport reputation, which, at an average of 60 per day, comes to fewer than 22,000 in a year. However, official figures showed that the actual number of offloaded passengers in 2025 was three times higher, at 66,000.

During the meeting today, the interior minister ordered the continuation of relentless and strict action against the mafia involved in illegal immigration.

“Elements involved in human smuggling do not deserve any leniency,” he said, making it clear that no one would be allowed to tarnish Pakistan’s image.

He directed the FIA to effectively implement immigration laws and make the immigration checking system at airports more efficient.

Naqvi also directed an effective crackdown against the professional beggar mafia and their backers.

The meeting was attended by federal secretary interior, additional secretary interior, director general FIA, directors Karachi and Lahore Zones.

Amid fears that genuine travellers would be given a tough time at airports in the name of “strict screening,” an official said there were clear directions from the interior minister that no passenger with complete and valid travel documents should be stopped.

He added that strict screening, coupled with a crackdown against fraudulent visa agents exploiting citizens, was meant to curb attempts to use fake or unverified documents, since such practices damage Pakistan’s image abroad.

Following months of growing public fury and social media outrage, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif finally took notice of questionable offloading in mid-December and formed a “special committee” to look into the issue and ensure safe migration.

Disclosing this, Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain said, “By the end of January, we will prepare proposals to address these issues,” stressing that safe migration is a “fundamental right.”