Young Pakistani flyers face tougher airport checks at GCC countries to combat human trafficking

DUBAI: The move targets young travellers, particularly first-timers, in an effort to combat human trafficking networks exploiting travel routes through GCC and other countries.

In a bid to curb rampant human smuggling, the FIA has directed immigration officials at airports across Pakistan to increase vigilance during the clearance of young passengers, especially those between 15 and 40 years of age. The measures apply to travellers holding visit, tourist, religious, or educational visas, with a particular focus on individuals traveling to GCC countries and other flagged destinations, including Turkey, Iran, and Libya.

Young first-time foreign travellers will undergo detailed scrutiny, including checks on travel documents like return tickets and hotel bookings. Officials will also conduct enhanced interviews to assess financial arrangements and travel purposes.
This heightened scrutiny follows an FIA review of travel data from July to December, revealing frequent use of countries such as Azerbaijan, Ethiopia, and Senegal as transit points in illegal trafficking routes to Europe. Cities like Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Sialkot, and Jhelum have been identified as key areas from which young travellers are likely to face stricter screening.