FIA issues strict advisory to curb human trafficking

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Wednesday issued an advisory, directing its deputy directors of immigration across the country to remain extra vigilant in curbing human trafficking.

The advisory stated that it was prepared based on a detailed analysis of the Immigration and Border Management System (IBMS) database from July to December.

FIA has directed improved profiling of passengers travelling to Azerbaijan, Ethiopia, Senegal, Kenya, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Libya, Iran, Mauritania, Iraq, Turkiye, Qatar, Kuwait, and Kyrgyzstan.

According to the statement, the officials have been directed to strictly monitor first-time foreign passengers between the ages of 15 and 40 during the immigration process.

“Especially, the young passengers travelling via two specific airlines, including Ethiopian Airlines,  should undergo a strict screening process,” the FIA advisory read.

“The strict monitoring of passengers residing in Mandi Bahauddin, Gujarat, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Bhimber, Jhelum, Toba Tek Singh, Hafizabad, and Sheikhupura should be completed,” FIA said.

All documents, including return tickets, and hotel bookings, of such passengers should be thoroughly scrutinised, the order said.

Moreover, the documents should be scrutinised with special attention to visiting or tourist visas, and strict interviews should be conducted to ascertain suspicious passengers’ financial arrangements and travel purposes.

The FIA directed all immigration officers to keep a detailed record of all such cases and report any suspicious matter immediately.