ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Saturday that the agent mafia, driven by greed for money,was playing with the future of innocent people and damaging the country’s reputation.
He warned that agents who lured people abroad with false promises of employment would not be given any leniency.
Naqvi paid a surprise visit to Islamabad International Airport, which lasted for nearly two hours. He inspected the immigration process, staff presence, and issues faced by passengers. During the visit, he also spoke to outbound travelers and listened to their experiences and complaints.
Taking strict notice of a complaint made by a passenger on November 7 regarding insufficient immigration staff, the minister ordered an immediate inquiry and instructed authorities to examine the CCTV footage closely. He assured that such complaints would not arise in the future.
He directed immigration officials to avoid unnecessarily stopping passengers who possess valid travel documents, but emphasized that those traveling with fake papers or through illegal means tarnish the country’s image — a situation that will not be tolerated.
Ordering a strong crackdown against the visa agent mafia, Naqvi said these agents exploit innocent people by enticing them with false job offers abroad. He added that no concession would be given to such fraudulent agents and that travel without verified documents cannot be allowed.
The interior minister issued strict instructions to relevant departments to make the airport’s immigration system more efficient, transparent, and passenger-friendly, ensuring that Pakistan’s image and travelers’ trust are not harmed.