More than 73,000 passengers were offloaded at Pakistani airports in 2025 as authorities tightened screening to prevent illegal immigration, the interior ministry informed the Senate.
The Ministry of Interior shared the figures in a written response submitted to the Senate. The data comes amid growing scrutiny of passenger movements and renewed efforts to curb illegal migration from Pakistan.
In recent months, thousands of Pakistanis have faced deportation from foreign countries for begging, while many others were stopped at airports over suspected violations of immigration rules.
According to the ministry, authorities offloaded 35,270 passengers in 2023 and 39,214 in 2024. That number rose sharply to 73,358 in 2025, bringing the three-year total to 147,842 passengers.
The ministry said officials only offload passengers when their behaviour or documentation suggests possible illegal intentions. However, it clarified that a large portion of cases involved technical or operational reasons rather than immigration violations.
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Of the total passengers offloaded in 2025, 45,356 were stopped for reasons such as flight cancellations, bad weather, aircraft faults, delays, refusal to travel, or airline decisions.
Passenger offloading has become a sensitive issue as Pakistan faces international pressure to curb illegal migration. Higher scrutiny at airports affects travellers directly and reflects broader concerns about human trafficking networks and misuse of travel documents.
Officials argue that stricter screening protects Pakistan’s international standing and helps prevent citizens from falling victim to illegal immigration schemes.
Last month, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi ordered strict screening of travel documents at all airports. He instructed authorities to strengthen immigration systems and apply the law without discrimination.
He also directed the Federal Investigation Agency to continue action against networks involved in illegal immigration and document fraud.
Fake documents and enforcement
Over the past three years, authorities identified 861 suspects carrying fake travel documents at airports. Officials deported 303 suspects and registered 417 cases, resulting in 557 arrests and 206 convictions.
The ministry also reported 153 additional cases related to fake documents and deportations. These cases resulted in 181 arrests and 93 convictions. In addition, authorities initiated 23 departmental inquiries against FIA officials, of which 17 have been concluded.
The ministry also shared data on beggars stopped or deported abroad. Authorities offloaded 507 beggars in 2024 and 90 in 2025. In 2024, officials registered 49 inquiries and 32 FIRs, arrested 59 beggars and 17 agents, and secured 19 convictions.
In 2025, authorities initiated 43 inquiries, registered 37 FIRs, arrested 36 beggars, and recorded one conviction.
Deportations linked to begging declined sharply. Authorities deported 4,850 beggars in 2024, compared with 1,187 in 2025. In 2024, officials arrested 91 deported beggars and two agents, while 12 were convicted. In 2025, 354 inquiries and 201 FIRs led to the arrest of 589 beggars and one agent, with 27 convictions.
Authorities are expected to continue strict screening at airports as part of broader efforts to control illegal migration. The interior ministry has not indicated whether screening measures will be relaxed, suggesting enforcement will remain in place.
