KARACHI: In a startling revelation, the Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Dr. Usman Anwar, disclosed that around 10,000 Pakistani nationals who travelled to the United Kingdom on student visas have misused them to seek political asylum.
The briefing was given during a high-profile meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Interior, chaired by Raja Khurram Nawaz. The DG FIA presented alarming statistics regarding human smuggling and illegal emigration, highlighting how these activities are tarnishing Pakistan’s image globally.
Global Concerns and Disappearing Citizens
According to Dr. Usman Anwar, international bodies, including the European Union (EU), have formally raised concerns with Pakistan over the rising trend of illegal migration.
The FIA chief shared a breakdown of recent data concerning missing Pakistani nationals abroad. In the United Kingdom, 10,000 individuals arrived on student visas and subsequently applied for asylum. Meanwhile, in Azerbaijan, 7,000 Pakistanis travelled on visit visas this year and went missing. Furthermore, 580 Pakistanis arrived in Belarus but never returned, while 175 Pakistanis were recently arrested in Libya and deported back to Pakistan.
Emerging Human Smuggling Routes
The committee was informed that human traffickers are constantly adapting to strict surveillance by shifting to new transit routes. Smugglers are now increasingly utilizing Malaysia and Uzbekistan as fresh pathways to illegally transport people into Europe and other destinations.
FIA’s Crackdown and Success Metrics
Despite the challenges, the FIA has significantly ramped up its monitoring at airports and border crossings. Due to tightened security measures and real-time data integration, a total of 39,786 individuals attempting to travel without proper documentation were offloaded in 2025. Additionally, over 3,000 individuals were barred from flying due to their placement on the FIA’s stop-list or via Interpol Red Notices.
Positive Outcomes
Dr. Anwar concluded on a positive note, stating that targeted federal crackdown initiatives have yielded substantial results. The influx of organized beggars travelling abroad has dropped by 75%, while the usage of fake travelling documents has seen a significant 31% decline.
The Standing Committee expressed serious concern over the findings and directed law enforcement agencies to further tighten the noose around human smuggling networks.
