Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said that professional beggars and people with incomplete or fake documents cannot be allowed to travel abroad. He stated that those who damage Pakistan’s image should face jail, while genuine passengers must be facilitated without unnecessary hurdles. He emphasised that the dignity of Pakistan and the convenience of travellers are the government’s top priorities.
The interior minister made these remarks during a visit to Lahore airport, where he reviewed immigration procedures for outbound passengers. He was accompanied by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry. The ministers visited immigration counters, observed operations, spoke to passengers, and reviewed processing times. Mohsin Naqvi praised an FIA official for good performance at the immigration desk.
During the visit, a passenger complained that his boarding was closed due to delay in checking. The minister immediately directed authorities to facilitate the passenger travelling to Kuwait. Several passengers reported that immigration clearance was being completed within minutes. Senior FIA officials were also present during the visit.
Earlier, FIA Director General Raja Riffat Mukhtar told a National Assembly committee that illegal migration and begging networks are seriously harming Pakistan’s global reputation. He revealed that 66,154 passengers were offloaded this year, compared to 35,000 last year. He also said that 56,000 beggars were deported from Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with stricter visa controls now in place.
