Pakistan Plans IMMI App as Passenger Off-Loadings Jump to 66,000 in One Year

As concerns mount over rising passenger off-loadings at Pakistani airports, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development has been informed that a dedicated risk-analysis unit has been established and a new IMMI app is under development to overhaul pre-departure screening.

Officials briefing the committee on Wednesday said the new systems are designed to identify high-risk travelers earlier in the journey and enable real-time monitoring at immigration counters, reducing the need for last-minute interventions that often leave passengers stranded at airports.

The initiative is part of a broader attempt to modernize Pakistan’s immigration controls amid international pressure to curb illegal migration, human trafficking, and organized begging networks operating under the guise of legal travel.

Lawmakers Flag Lack of System Integration as Core Problem

Despite welcoming the technological upgrades, committee members expressed serious concern that poor coordination between government systems continues to cause inconvenience for genuine travelers.

Members strongly urged immediate interoperability between the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) databases and the Protectorate of Emigrants’ e-Protector platform, arguing that document verification and “ok-to-board” checks should be completed before passengers arrive at immigration counters.

“If there is an issue with documentation, travelers should have the opportunity to resolve it in advance, rather than being stopped at the airport,” members stressed, noting that the current system disproportionately affects overseas Pakistanis, particularly labor migrants.

The committee chair placed particular emphasis on accountability and transparency in off-loading decisions, calling for clear, accessible information for affected passengers.

He directed authorities to ensure that:

• Clear instructions on how to challenge an off-loading decision are publicly available.

• Contact details of relevant officials are prominently displayed at all airports.

• A visible online complaint form is made available to travellers.

Better communication and institutional coordination, members noted, would significantly reduce harassment of overseas Pakistanis and help restore public confidence in immigration enforcement.

The committee also instructed officials to present a clear timeline for system integration and public awareness measures in the next briefing.

Off-Loadings Nearly Double as FIA Steps Up Enforcement

Briefing the committee on operational realities, the Director General FIA revealed that 66,154 passengers have been off-loaded so far this year, a sharp increase from approximately 35,000 last year.

According to the FIA:

• 51,000 passengers were stopped due to questionable or unverifiable travel documents

• The majority fell under work visas, tourist visas, and Umrah visas

The DG FIA described the surge as a necessary countermeasure against increasingly sophisticated fraudulent migration networks.

Illegal Migration and Begging Rings Damage Pakistan’s Global Standing

FIA officials warned that illegal migration and organized begging are inflicting serious reputational damage on Pakistan abroad.

The committee was informed that:

• 56,000 Pakistani beggars were deported from Saudi Arabia

• The UAE has tightened visa restrictions for Pakistani nationals

• New illegal migration routes are emerging toward Africa, Europe, and even Southeast Asian destinations such as Cambodia and Thailand, often using tourist visas

“These trends force host countries to impose blanket restrictions, hurting genuine travelers and workers,” FIA officials said, defending stricter scrutiny as essential to protecting Pakistan’s international credibility.