Multan:Genuine passengers travelling abroad were not offloaded without a valid reason, but incomplete travel documents, expired visas, failure to meet travel requirements and other discrepancies may lead to passengers being stopped from travelling, said Assistant Director Immigration at Multan International Airport, Moazzam Ali Khan. He advised passengers to ensure that all required documents were complete and valid before departure to avoid inconvenience at the airport. Moazzam Ali Khan said immigration officials examined passengers’ travel purposes, profiles and supporting documents at immigration counters.
Some passengers travelling abroad for tourism failed to carry the required documentation, while others had previously been deported from foreign countries or attempted to travel despite expired Umrah visas. Such cases could lead to offloading in accordance with applicable rules and regulations, he added. He said immigration officials assessed each case on its merits and examined the relevant technical aspects of travel documentation. If deficiencies were identified, passengers were informed of the shortcomings and advised to complete the required documents. Clarifying a common misconception, he said maintaining a bank account was not mandatory for every passenger. Instead, officials assessed the purpose of travel and whether the passenger possessed the documents required for the intended journey.
The immigration official urged travellers to verify the validity of their passports, visas and other travel documents before leaving for the airport. He also advised them to ensure that their paperwork matched the purpose of their visit abroad. He said public facilitation centres of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had been established at the airport to help passengers obtain guidance and have their travel documents checked. Passengers were encouraged to use these facilities before departure to identify and address any deficiencies in advance.
Warning against visa fraud, Moazzam Ali Khan advised people to exercise caution when dealing with agents offering overseas employment or travel arrangements. He stressed the importance of verifying whether an agent was registered with the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment and held the required licence. Information could be obtained through the FIA website and facilitation centres, while advice from reliable and well-informed sources could also help passengers avoid fraudulent schemes, he said. He further said a review committee had been established to examine complaints and cases involving offloaded passengers. The committee included the Director of the FIA Multan Zone and the Deputy Director Immigration. Passengers who were offloaded could approach the committee to explain their grievances and seek clarification regarding the reasons for being stopped from travelling.
Those who subsequently completed the required documentation could also present their cases for reconsideration. Following the committee’s review and directions, immigration officials would re-examine the relevant documents and decide whether to permit travel in accordance with applicable rules and regulations, he added. Moazzam Ali Khan also said that authorities were maintaining strict scrutiny to prevent individuals from travelling abroad for the purpose of begging, as part of efforts to curb such practices.