Travel Agents' Association of Pakistan (Taap) on Monday appealed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Federal Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali for immediate intervention against the arrest of license-holder and taxpayer travel agents. Addressing a press conference at Karachi Press Club, Regional Chairman Taap Muhammad Nadeem Sharif also expressed concern on harassment, raids and misuse of powers by Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials. On the occasion Hanif Rinch, Muhammad Usman from Quetta and other travel agents were also present.
"The entire business of travel agents is completely documented and they are providing travel and tourism services to passengers all over Pakistan and also generating huge revenue in shape of taxes for the national exchequer and various federal and provincial authorities," he said.
"As per the relevant law the travel agents can render services and conduct business in 13 fields of operations which involve ticketing and acquiring passports of passengers as per the demands and requirements of airlines and return the passports immediately after making the tickets," he added. Regional Chairman Taap said travel agents and Overseas Employment Promoters all over Pakistan were generating foreign exchange for the country in billion of rupees besides paying all the legitimate federal, provincial and local taxes and levies. However, uncalled harassment and arrest of travel agents by FIA was a fatal blow on the industry which would impede the pace of economy because the communication and travel sector contributed to a huge chunk of national GDP, he added.
"Due to confiscation of passports by FIA from travel agents, which were mainly submitted by the passengers for the purpose of making international travelling tickets, the travellers particularly Umrah Pilgrim are going through tremendous stress and unrest and hence are reluctant to submit their passports to travel agencies for needful," he added.
The FIA's act was not only delaying the Umrah proceedings but also resulting to loss of business of airlines in million of rupees and likewise also hampering generation of taxes for the government, he added.
He mentioned that a similar attempt was made by FIA in 2004 whereby Honourable Court of the country passed an order that travel agents could keep the passports of travellers for limited time period mainly to make air tickets as required by the airlines and immediately return the passports to the bearers. "Taap is a representative body of the travel agents, therefore FIA is being requested that in case any complaints against the travel agents and the overseas employment promoters, the government authorities can consult Taap and Pakistan Overseas Employment Promoters Association (POEPA), who will extend their full support and cooperation," Nadeem said.
In the current situation and scenario the genuine and license-holding travel agents have been arrested by FIA and on the other hand the unscrupulous and criminal elements involved in the human trafficking were free and enjoying liberty for their unsocial activities, he added. Regional Chairman Taap said Taap and POEPA were jointly agitating against harassment and arrest of travel agents and confiscation of passports and were of the view that FIA should focus its energy to find and punish the real culprits rather than penalising the innocent and genuine travel agents. He urged the federal government for taking notice immediately into the matter.
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