The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has offloaded 39,786 passengers from airports across Pakistan over the past three years as part of intensified scrutiny introduced after the 2023 Libya boat tragedy. Official documents, seen by The Express Tribune, reveal that more than 12,600 travellers were stopped due to "low-profile" and suspicious travel plans.
Prime Minister's Directive After Libya Disaster
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered stricter passenger screening at all airports following the Libya migrant boat disaster in 2023. Since then, the FIA has significantly tightened travel checks to curb illegal migration and human smuggling. According to the documents, the largest number of passengers—20,408—were offloaded because they lacked the required travel documents.
Low-Profile Travelers Flagged
Another 12,673 travellers were prevented from boarding flights due to their "low-profile" financial background or suspicious travel plans. FIA sources said many of those categorised as "low-profile" appeared financially incapable of undertaking international travel. The category included daily wage labourers or workers with no previous international travel history who were travelling on Umrah visas or tourist visas for destinations such as Turkiye, Dubai or Thailand.
Stop Lists and Irregular Routes
The documents further reveal that 3,450 passengers were offloaded because their names appeared on stop lists or because Interpol had placed restrictions on their international travel. Another 505 passengers were stopped because of irregular or incorrect travel routes. The total of 39,786 offloaded passengers also includes those prevented from flying for other reasons, such as suspicious documentation or behavioral indicators.
Impact on Illegal Migration
The intensified screening has been part of a broader effort to combat human smuggling networks that exploit vulnerable Pakistanis. The Libya boat tragedy, which claimed dozens of lives, prompted a government-wide review of border security and immigration controls. FIA officials have stated that the measures are intended to protect citizens from dangerous journeys and dismantle trafficking rings.
