LAHORE: Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has put travel restrictions on first-time travelers, especially those around 35 years old, from areas like Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Mandi Bahauddin, and Jhelum. These restrictions apply to 15 countries, including Saudi Arabia, even for religious trips like Umrah, as reported by Dawn.
The Pakistan Federal Investigation Agency is closely monitoring passengers traveling to countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Turkiye, Qatar, Azerbaijan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Egypt, Libya, Ethiopia, Senegal, Mauritania, and Kenya. Authorities are making sure travelers have a clear reason for their trip, confirmed hotel bookings, and enough money to support themselves. Those going for Umrah also need to show they have sufficient religious knowledge.
This decision comes after several tragic boat accidents in Libya, Greece, and Morocco/Mauritania, where many people from Pakistan were found traveling illegally under Umrah visit visas. The FIA report states that most of these individuals were between 15 and 40 years old and came from areas like Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Bhimber, Jhelum, Toba Tek Singh, Hafizabad, and Sheikhupura.
At airports, immigration officers are carefully checking documents and interviewing travelers to confirm their travel plans and financial status. A recent review of the Immigration Border Management System (IBMS) database found that many people were misusing visit, tourist, and student visas to enter transit countries and then attempt illegal travel to Europe. Because of this, FIA's Risk Analysis Unit has flagged these 15 countries as high-risk routes for illegal immigration.