ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Anti-Human Trafficking Circle Rawalpindi raided an illegally operating overseas employment agency in Rawalpindi and arrested its CEO and manager.

In Rawalpindi, the FIA acted on information provided by the Bureau of Imigration and Overseas Employment Rawalpindi and raided offices No 305 and 306, Rawal Mall and Residencia, Chandni Chowk.

The agency, ‘Phoenix HR Consultant’, was allegedly operating without any legal licence or permission and was conducting illegal recruitment activities and arranging interviews of candidates, the FIA said. This was confirmed by the Bureau of Imigration and Overseas Employment.

During the raid, conducted under the supervision of Inspector Ashir Haroon (SHO), the raiding team arrested CEO Yasir Arafat and Manager Haji Waqar on the spot. At the time of the raid, interviews of at least 15 intending emigrants were underway. During the search, several passports, interview records of candidates and promotional banners were recovered.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026