Islamabad (EHSAN BUKHARI , SPECIAL REPORTER)
Director General of FIA, Riffat Mukhtar Raja, along with FIA Director Shehzad Nadeem Bukhari, made a sudden visit to Islamabad International Airport after multiple complaints surfaced regarding the off-loading of Pakistani passengers traveling abroad by immigration officials using various tactics.
According to sources, the DG FIA received reports that some FIA immigration staff were allegedly taking bribes to allow passengers to travel abroad. Passengers who paid were allowed to depart, while those who refused were off-loaded. One citizen even filed a writ petition in the Islamabad High Court, claiming that they were initially off-loaded and later allowed to travel after paying Rs 80,000.
During the visit, the DG FIA was briefed by airport immigration officers and conducted a detailed review of immigration operations. Islamabad International Airport handles 94 international flights daily, processing over 10,000 international passengers. On January 13, 2,400 passengers were cleared in just one hour. Peak hours often result in temporary crowding due to simultaneous arrivals. FIA immigration operates in three shifts, with 15 counters for departures and 13 for arrivals. Weather and technical issues sometimes contribute to flight delays and crowding.
The DG FIA issued directives to ensure the highest standard of immigration service, including installing a queue management system, phased implementation of e-gates, deployment of queue staff for passenger guidance, and the introduction of a pre-departure app to expedite immigration clearance.
Sources added that after completing the airport visit, the DG FIA returned, having thoroughly reviewed the situation. Significant changes and improvements at Islamabad Airport are expected in the coming days.