LAHORE, Feb 16: The Federal Investigation Agency has directed its zonal offices to launch a crackdown on the consultant firms, which are involved in sending people abroad on doctored documents.

The directive has been issued by the FIA director-general on complaints that various consultant firms are involved in human smuggling. Operating mainly in major cities of the country, these firms are taking huge amounts from the people, instead of charging a few thousands rupees, for providing guidance or facilitating their travel abroad.

The FIA has reportedly no solid mechanism to identify the firms involved in this heinous crime. Such firms are registered with the ministry of manpower and overseas employment and the FIA can initiate action against such companies only on complaints.

The FIA has recently arrested the owners of two consultant firms in Lahore on the complaints of the Norwegian Embassy and those who had given huge amount to them.