Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced on Friday the launch of a pilot artificial intelligence-based application aimed at curbing illegal immigration and clamping down on fraudulent travel documents following a high-level meeting co-chaired by Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, to review comprehensive immigration reforms.
Naqvi stated the AI tool would enable authorities to determine “who is fit to travel and who is not,” emphasising a policy of zero tolerance against fake visas and the agent mafias that produce them. The reforms are designed to facilitate legitimate travellers while improving Pakistan’s international reputation.
The ministers decided to launch an aggressive crackdown on individuals travelling abroad on forged documents and to dismantle the networks of agents involved in the fake visa business. They directed relevant authorities to submit final recommendations on the reform package within seven days.
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Minister Naqvi outlined several specific measures, including making the Protector system—which provides emigration clearance for Pakistanis going abroad on work visas—foolproof. He also announced that the National Police Bureau would issue a uniform international driving license.
To prevent recidivism, the government will ensure that individuals deported back to Pakistan have their passports cancelled and are barred from receiving future visas. Naqvi added that the government is in contact with other nations to improve the ranking and acceptance of the Pakistani green passport.
Federal Minister Salik Hussain stressed the critical need for authentic documentation for those travelling on labour visas, asserting that their papers must be genuine. He pledged the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis’ full cooperation in implementing improvements to the Protector and broader immigration systems.
