Pakistan Enforces New Regulations for Visit Visa Holders

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) have implemented a new requirement for passengers holding visit visas, mandating that they possess round-trip tickets from the same airline for international travel.

This decision is a response to increasing concerns over visa violations and illegal immigration.

A communication from the FIA and the aviation authority has been dispatched to all domestic and international airlines, stating that strict guidelines have been established prohibiting the issuance of boarding passes to passengers who do not present a round-trip ticket from the same airline. This directive particularly targets travelers heading to popular destinations like Bangkok, Malaysia, and Dubai.

For those who book round-trip tickets with different airlines, it is necessary for the Passenger Name Record (PNR) number to match for both segments of the journey. This measure is intended to prevent passengers from exploiting loopholes in airline ticketing systems to illegally remain in foreign countries.

Authorities have also been instructed to pay special attention to travelers with limited travel histories to minimize the risk of visa overstays or unauthorized employment abroad. “All travelers with low profiles or inconsistent travel patterns must undergo additional screening according to the new guidelines,” stated a source familiar with the situation.

These measures aim to prevent individuals from traveling abroad without the proper documentation, as it is common for passengers to avoid purchasing two-way tickets from the same airline to seek opportunities in other countries, including for work.

Additionally, the authorities have raised concerns about the difficulties in recovering deportation expenses from passengers returned to Pakistan for violating visa terms. The FIA pointed out that many deportees come back without adequate resources, placing the financial burden of their repatriation on airlines and government agencies.

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