Naqvi assures no traveller with complete documents being stopped at airport

Federal Interior and Narcotics Control Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Tuesday said no passenger with complete travel documents was being stopped from travelling, nor would they be stopped in the future.

Issuing clear directives regarding travel documentation, the minister said this while dismissing reports about passenger offloading and hurdles being faced for immigration at the airport.

He conducted a visit to Lahore airport to review the passenger immigration process and the efficiency of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the Ministry of Interior said in a statement.

Minister Naqvi warned that passengers with incomplete or bogus documents would absolutely not be allowed to travel, said the ministry.

He also stressed upon the importance of national image: “Pakistan’s honour is the honour of all of us. No passenger who causes dishonour to the homeland can be allowed to travel.”

The development comes after claims surfaced in some social media posts, alleging arbitrary offloading of passengers.

FIA, in a statement on November 27, rejected social media claims, terming the posts “fabricated and misleading” and aimed at creating unnecessary public concern.

The agency had said it did not offload any passenger whose travel documents were complete and whose purpose of travel was legitimate. It had added that safeguarding travellers remained its top priority.

The FIA had urged citizens not to trust illegal agents and to ensure they traveled with complete and verified documents.

FIA rejects ‘misleading’ social media claims on passenger off-loading

Naqvi praises FIA

Minister Naqvi also observed the system that integrates passengers’ travel history with their national identity cards and passports at the immigration counters. He praised the performance of Director FIA Ali Zia and his team for developing and implementing the high-speed system.

The minister personally interacted with both departing and arriving passengers, inquiring about the duration and experience of their immigration process.

“Passengers expressed high satisfaction, with some telling the minister that the process was completed in just two minutes. They also credited the improvement to the minister’s repeated airport visits,” the ministry said.

Director FIA Zia and other concerned officials were also present during the minister’s visit.