FIA offloaded 39,786 passengers in 2025 amid anti-human smuggling crackdown

• Additional 34,688 travellers stopped due to airline, legal and operational disruptions in 2025

• Additional DG says decision-making based on risk profiles, document checks and intelligence-led screening system

• Says FIA registered 2,421 cases and arrests 3,130 agents in crackdown since December 2024

• Credits risk analysis system for reduction in deportations linked to forgery and beggary cases

 ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has offloaded 39,786 passengers during 2025 under what it describes as a “lawful, intelligence-driven and risk-based system” aimed at curbing irregular migration, dismantling human-smuggling networks and protecting Pakistan’s international image, a senior official said on Sunday.

“Passenger offloading, often criticised publicly, is primarily a preventive step aimed at saving lives, protecting citizens from exploitation abroad and safeguarding Pakistan’s international image. Protection of human life and prevention of exploitation at the hands of human traffickers has always been the prime objective of the FIA,” FIA Immigration Additional Director General Nouman Siddiqui said while speaking to a “select group of senior journalists.”

Defending the agency’s immigration controls, Siddiqui stressed that offloading decisions were not arbitrary but based on immigration concerns, suspicious travel patterns, document verification, destination-country requirements and established standard operating procedures.

The briefing comes amid heightened scrutiny of the FIA’s immigration regime following a series of deadly irregular migration incidents involving Pakistani nationals and growing efforts by authorities to crack down on human smuggling networks.

According to the official, at least 39,786 passengers were offloaded by FIA immigration authorities during 2025, while another 34,688 passengers were prevented from travelling for reasons unrelated to the FIA, including airline disruptions, technical faults, flight cancellations, adverse weather conditions, self-offloading, seasonal border closures and actions initiated by other law enforcement agencies.

A report submitted to the Senate revealed that FIA immigration officers offloaded at least 132 passengers from scheduled flights at airports across the country during the past year, while disciplinary action was taken against 85 FIA officials for misuse of authority.

Separately, a National Assembly standing committee was informed in December that at least 51,000 passengers had been offloaded at airports during 2025 after failing immigration checks, with Lahore and Karachi accounting for a significant share of the cases.

 Two categories of offloaded passengers

Siddiqui said passengers prevented from travelling broadly fell into two categories: those offloaded by FIA on immigration or risk grounds, and those affected by factors beyond FIA jurisdiction.

Besides the 39,786 passengers offloaded by FIA, another 34,688 were stopped from travelling due to airline-related issues or legal actions carried out by agencies including Customs, the Anti Narcotics Force (ANF), Airport Security Force (ASF) and the police.

 Rising risks and deadly consequences

The FIA official said the intensified crackdown followed a series of tragedies linked to illegal migration routes over the past three years.

According to official estimates, around 460 Pakistanis have fallen victim to such incidents during the period, including at least 377 reported deaths.

Citing data from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Siddiqui said 109 Pakistani nationals lost their lives in 2025 alone while attempting irregular migration.

He said the issue gained renewed urgency following the June 2023 Greece boat disaster, in which a large number of Pakistani migrants perished in the Mediterranean Sea. A high-level inquiry committee constituted by the prime minister subsequently recommended stricter enforcement measures, many of which are now being implemented.

As part of the crackdown on trafficking networks, the FIA registered 2,421 cases since December 2024 and arrested 3,130 agents allegedly involved in human smuggling operations.

Authorities also seized assets worth Rs961.71 million, recovered Rs87.7 million and froze bank accounts containing Rs239.63 million.

“These figures reflect the scale and seriousness of human smuggling and trafficking in Pakistan,” Siddiqui said.

He added that many intercepted passengers were found travelling through suspicious routes, fake overseas employment schemes, forged documents, fraudulent sponsorship arrangements or high-risk transit patterns commonly associated with organised smuggling and trafficking networks.

To improve detection, the FIA’s Risk Analysis Unit developed five risk profiles enabling immigration officers to distinguish suspected irregular migrants from genuine travellers. The profiles are reviewed and updated periodically.

According to the official, the measures have contributed to a 75 per cent reduction in deportations linked to beggary and a 31 per cent decline in deportations resulting from document forgery.

Overall deportations from various countries declined by 16 per cent in 2025 compared to 2024, while data from Frontex showed a 64 per cent reduction in illegal border crossings into Europe by Pakistani nationals during the first two months of FY2025-26.

 Facilitation and reforms

Siddiqui said the FIA has simultaneously introduced facilitation measures to minimise inconvenience for legitimate travellers.

Pre-departure facilitation desks have been established at zonal offices to help passengers verify travel documents before purchasing airline tickets.

Passengers who believe they were offloaded due to misunderstandings or incomplete information may approach the relevant border checkpost in-charge for immediate review and are allowed to travel if found eligible.

A dedicated 24/7 helpline has also been established to handle complaints and provide assistance.

The additional DG acknowledged that immigration officials often face significant challenges while making real-time decisions under public pressure and media scrutiny.

“Many passengers initially present legitimate purposes, but deeper checks reveal links with traffickers or illegal migration routes,” he said, warning that failure to intervene could expose individuals to detention, exploitation or even death abroad.

 New legislation to strengthen immigration controls, introduce clearer remedial mechanisms

The FIA has proposed new legislation aimed at strengthening immigration controls and introducing clearer remedial mechanisms for affected travellers.

A Joint Working Group comprising the FIA, Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment, and the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis has also been established to improve coordination.

According to Siddiqui, the forum will facilitate genuine overseas workers holding valid work visas registered with the Protectorate of Emigrants while simultaneously strengthening anti-smuggling efforts and immigration controls.

Reaffirming the agency’s commitment to balancing facilitation with enforcement, the FIA immigration chief said the organisation remained focused on preventing irregular migration, human smuggling, trafficking, forged travel documentation and the loss of Pakistani lives abroad.

The head of the FIA’s immigration wing maintained that immigration controls should be viewed not as punitive measures but as safeguards designed to protect vulnerable citizens.

“Our goal is to strike a balance — to facilitate genuine travellers while preventing human smuggling, trafficking and the tragic loss of Pakistani lives,” he said.