In a scenario that diverges from the usual airport security measures seen worldwide, Pakistan has intensified scrutiny at its airports, not primarily due to terror threats or criminal pursuits, but to curb an unusual trend—people leaving the country disguised as tourists to seek better livelihoods in Gulf nations.
According to a report by Dawn, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has deployed additional immigration staff across airports to intercept individuals attempting to flee Pakistan under the guise of tourism. Over the past few months, several “beggars disguised as tourists” have been offloaded from flights heading to destinations like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq, Iran, Oman, and Turkey.
A senior FIA official revealed that Pakistani nationals are increasingly being detained abroad for begging, with an alarming 90% of those arrested in foreign countries being of Pakistani origin. This issue has been particularly prominent in the Middle East, where gangs of potential beggars, mainly from the south Punjab districts, have been traveling from Multan airport disguised as religious tourists.
The Pakistani government, aware of the growing problem, has taken measures to address it. Earlier this year, Pakistan’s interior ministry reported that in the past two and a half years, they have prevented 44,000 passengers from boarding flights due to suspicions of posing as tourists to reach Gulf countries.
This situation has led to a tightening of visa regulations by UAE authorities, who have reportedly begun declining visas for Pakistanis unable to prove their status as “genuine visitors” by showing sufficient funds in their accounts. This stricter visa regime has created challenges for legitimate travelers, who are now facing greater scrutiny.
In response to the increasing pressure, a senior FIA officer suggested that Gulf countries should consider revising their visa processing systems instead of solely relying on Pakistani authorities to prevent potential beggars, criminals, and illegal immigrants from leaving the country.
The responsibility on Pakistan’s part has also grown, as it is not only focused on stopping “beggars” but is also actively working with foreign nations, particularly those in the Middle East, to repatriate wanted criminals. In recent years, Punjab police have successfully brought back numerous criminals wanted for serious offenses from Dubai, thanks to cooperation with Interpol.
The FIA is also cracking down on human traffickers operating in regions such as Gujranwala, Gujrat, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The crackdown intensified after a tragic boat sinking incident near Greece last year, which involved hundreds of Pakistanis. In the past two months, the FIA’s anti-human trafficking unit has arrested nearly 200 suspected traffickers, including those linked to the Greek boat tragedy.
FIA Gujranwala region Director Qadir Qamar emphasized that staff at Pakistan international airports are now more vigilant than ever, offloading passengers with fake or suspicious travel documents as part of the broader effort to address this growing issue.