The Pakistani passport has risen in global ranking from 118th to 92nd this year, the Director-General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) told the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Rights. The improvement comes as authorities step up efforts to curb illegal travel and human trafficking.
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The FIA chief said that 51,000 passengers were offloaded from flights for various irregularities, including attempts to travel illegally to Europe under the pretext of performing Umrah. Saudi Arabia deported 24,000 Pakistanis, primarily for begging or irregular travel, while Dubai sent back 6,000, and Azerbaijan deported 2,500.
Authorities also tracked suspicious travel to Southeast Asia. Around 24,000 Pakistanis traveled to Cambodia this year, with 12,000 still unaccounted for, while 2,500 of the 4,000 tourists who went to Myanmar have not returned.
The FIA highlighted unusual cases, such as a fake football club that sent a team to Japan, which included a physically disabled person posing as a player. Additionally, authorities uncovered cases of Bangladeshi nationals using Pakistan as a transit route to Europe on tourist visas.
The FIA chief emphasized that the strict enforcement measures are designed to combat illegal travel and human trafficking. He noted that cracking down on unreturned travelers and illegal migration has been key to improving Pakistan’s passport ranking internationally.
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Officials said these measures signal a significant step toward better border control and stricter monitoring of overseas travel. Tracking irregularities and enforcing deportations have contributed to Pakistan being removed from lists of top countries for illegal migration.
The committee was briefed that ongoing efforts include improved monitoring of flights, visa controls, and coordination with foreign authorities to prevent misuse of Pakistan’s travel documents.