Reports from major airports suggested that the FIA was offloading people travelling for work or studies without giving clear reasons. Many travellers said they had valid documents but were still denied boarding.
Sources said several passengers were stopped despite holding proper work visas, which led to strong criticism and claims that the FIA was acting unfairly.
An FIA official clarified that passengers were only being offloaded when they lacked required documents or when authorities suspected links with migrant smuggling groups.
During a private TV programme, FIA Director for Gujranwala Zone, Muhammad Bin Ashraf, warned that misleading AI-generated images, videos and false stories on social media were spreading panic about airport offloading.
He said such content was designed to confuse the public and damage the FIA’s image, urging people to verify information only through official channels.
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Ashraf explained that offloading is a preventive step, especially after recent migrant boat tragedies that killed many Pakistanis attempting illegal travel.
He said the FIA’s Risk Analysis Unit (RAU) uses international software and apps to create risk profiles based on illegal immigration patterns. Passengers matching these profiles are offloaded to stop smuggling.
He added that only travellers to certain regions — mainly African countries, some Central Asian states and Gulf nations — faced offloading based on risk assessment.
The FIA mainly checks first-time visa holders and visitors, offloading only those who fall into the RAU’s risk category.
Ashraf claimed that boat incidents had sharply decreased after RAU measures were introduced.
He also shared data from immigration records, noting that last year around 90 million people travelled in and out of Pakistan, and only about 1% were offloaded for different reasons.
According to him, if 100,000 people travel abroad in a month, around 200 to 300 may be offloaded based on risk.
He said passengers facing corruption or mistreatment can file complaints through the FIA website, email to the Director-General or the PM Portal.
The FIA will also launch a new immigration app that will let passengers check and update documents online before travelling.
Experts say the offloading issue shows how seriously authorities are treating illegal migration risks. They note that the use of software-based risk checks has reduced dangerous travel attempts. Analysts also believe better public awareness and verified information can reduce confusion. They say the new app may help passengers avoid last-minute problems before flying.
