ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has directed the formation of a special committee to investigate the frequent offloading of passengers travelling abroad, Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain said on Monday. The move comes amid growing concerns over travellers being denied boarding despite holding valid travel documents.
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Over the past few months, numerous incidents have been reported at airports across the country, with passengers being offloaded from flights despite possessing complete visas and travel papers. These measures followed a crackdown on migrant smuggling after the tragic Greece boat incident in 2024, which claimed several Pakistani lives.
Minister Hussain stated that the newly formed committee will examine the issue and prepare recommendations to ensure safe migration. “By the end of January, we will prepare proposals to address these issues,” he said, stressing that safe migration is a fundamental right. A meeting of the committee is expected to be held this week to initiate its work.
The minister also highlighted the role of the International Organisation of Migration (IOM) in facilitating safe migration for Pakistani citizens. He emphasized that the government seeks to balance security concerns with the rights of legitimate travellers.
Earlier, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had visited Islamabad airport and clarified that no passenger in possession of “genuine and complete documents” should be barred from travelling abroad. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had also stated that offloading occurs only when travellers either lack valid documentation or are suspected of collaborating with migrant smugglers.
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The formation of this committee reflects the government’s commitment to safeguarding the rights of overseas Pakistanis while addressing security challenges. Authorities aim to ensure that legitimate travellers can continue to move abroad without undue obstacles.