Government panel formed to investigate offloading of travellers

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken notice of reports of travellers being offloaded while travelling abroad, and a committee has been formed to investigate the matter.

The committee has been formed with representatives from NADRA, MOFA, and FIA. However, the committee will propose a new mechanism for people travelling overseas.

The committee is led by Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik and includes Federal Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja and Minister of State for Overseas Pakistanis Muhammad Awn Chaudhry.

Heads of the Pakistan Digital Authority and the National Information Technology Board are also part of the panel. The Secretary of Overseas Pakistanis, the Secretary IT, and the Additional Secretary Interior will also serve as members.

Moreover, the committee is expected to submit its report to the prime minister within three weeks.

Earlier, social media was flooded with reports of citizens being offloaded while travelling abroad, even those holding work, visit, or student visas. The offloading has been attributed to incomplete profiles, with affected travellers including Umrah pilgrims, work visa holders, and visitors on tourist or family visit visas.

Last month, 850 passengers were offloaded from Jinnah International Airport. It was doubted that these people might be travelling for begging, smuggling or might get trapped in human trafficking.

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