In a significant move to curb human trafficking, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has issued its first travel advisory in 20 years. The advisory, which aims to tighten scrutiny on passengers traveling abroad, has been sent to Deputy Directors of Immigration across Pakistan. The directive focuses on monitoring passengers from 15 countries, nine cities within Pakistan, and two airlines, with a special emphasis on young travelers.
For the first time, the advisory targets individuals aged between 15 and 40 years, particularly those traveling with FlyDubai and Ethiopian Airlines. Passengers from countries such as Azerbaijan, Ethiopia, Senegal, Kenya, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt will undergo heightened checks, as these nations have been identified as transit points for human trafficking to Europe. The advisory also includes profiling measures for passengers from Libya, Iran, Mauritania, Iraq, Turkiye, Qatar, Kuwait, and Kyrgyzstan.
Also Read: Over 60 FIA Officials Involved in Human Trafficking
The monitoring process is based on an analysis of the IBMS database from July to December. Special attention will be given to passengers from specific cities like Mandi Bahauddin, Gujarat, Sialkot, and Gujranwala. Additionally, thorough checks on return tickets, hotel bookings, and travel documents are mandated, with a particular focus on tourist and religious visas. Suspicious passengers will be interviewed to determine the purpose of their travel and financial arrangements.
The FIA has already taken action against human trafficking activities, including thwarting a major attempt at Islamabad Airport where five individuals, including a 16-year-old boy, were detained. They were attempting to travel to Saudi Arabia and Libya before heading to Italy by sea. The FIA has stepped up screening procedures at airports and borders to combat this growing issue.
