ISLAMABAD, Nov 06 (DNA):Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain on Thursday took notice of workers being offloaded at airports and directed the authorities to address the issue without delay.
During the high-level meeting, he presided over, officials briefed him regarding the offloading of workers at multiple airports.
Chaudhry Salik Hussain stated that, even though workers possessed valid work visas and protector certificates, they were still offloaded at several airports. He emphasized that the matter is being addressed with urgency to prevent such occurrences in the future.
Riffat Mukhtar, the Director General of the FIA, participated in the meeting in a special capacity, where Chaudhry Salik Hussain instructed him to take immediate action to resolve the problem of workers being offloaded at airports.
The federal minister assured that, going forward, no holder of a valid work visa will be offloaded at the airport.
The minister affirmed that no worker will be unlawfully stopped at airports, stressing that Pakistanis going abroad for employment hold a place of great respect and value.
Salik highlighted that remittances from Overseas Pakistanis provide crucial foreign exchange, sustaining the national economy. He added that the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, in collaboration with FIA officials, is drafting SOPs to prevent such incidents in the future.
The DG FIA stated that incidents of workers being offloaded at Lahore and Karachi airports have been reported, and an inquiry is in progress. He emphasized that if any FIA personnel are found involved, strict action will be taken.
He further clarified that no new conditions have been imposed on individuals traveling abroad on work visas, nor has any requirement been introduced for obtaining an affidavit from a government officer.
The DG FIA also announced that a new digital system will soon be launched, enabling workers to complete their immigration process online prior to departure.
A delegation from the Pakistan Overseas Employment Promoters Association also attended the meeting.
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