Offloaded at a Pakistan airport: why it happens and what to do

Why passengers are offloaded

An FIA zone director has said passengers are stopped for these reasons:

• Documents that are not valid.
• Work permits or visas that name companies that do not exist, which the FIA suspects are linked to human smuggling.
• Suspected migrant smuggling, for example changing route mid-transit or travelling together with a suspected smuggler on an Umrah visa.

Passengers, business groups and lawyers dispute that offloading is always justified, and figures reported in the news vary widely. Because of that, we do not quote totals here.

What to carry

• Passport valid for the destination's required period, and the correct visa.
• Confirmed return or onward ticket.
• Proof of where you will stay: hotel booking or host invitation with contact details.
• A clear, honest reason for travel, with papers that support it: employer letter, business documents, admission or conference letter.
• For work visas: the employer's details and a copy of the contract. Make sure the company is real and can be verified.
• Proof of funds appropriate to the trip.
• Photos or scans of all of the above on your phone.

What the 2026 rules say

• In May 2026 the Lahore High Court held that the FIA cannot stop a citizen from travelling abroad without valid legal grounds if the person holds a visa, ticket and the required documents. It said officials must record detailed reasons before offloading, document the questions asked and, where possible, give the passenger a copy of the order.
• News reports say FIA Standing Order 07/2026, issued around 12 October 2026, stops officers from offloading a passenger on a verbal instruction alone and ties each decision to a written record. This comes from news reports. We could not find the text of the order itself, so confirm it with the FIA.
• The FIA has set up pre-departure facilitation desks at its zonal offices to guide travellers before they go to the airport, as reported in January 2026.

Offloading can still happen. The rules change how decisions must be recorded. They do not stop every case.

If you are stopped

1. Stay calm and polite. Answer questions truthfully and consistently.
2. Ask politely which rule or order is being used and request the decision in writing, with the officer's name and number.
3. Photograph your ticket, boarding pass, passport and visa. Note the time, the counter and the questions asked.
4. Complain the same day, attaching your photos and notes.
5. Never pay anyone to let you through. Report any request for money.

Where to complain

The FIA website (fia.gov.pk) lists these complaint channels. We checked them there on 18 October 2026:

• Online complaint portal: complaint.fia.gov.pk
• Email: complaints@fia.gov.pk
• Helplines: 1991 and 051-111-345-786

The portal creates a record with a complaint number, which helps later. If the problem is not solved, a lawyer can advise on a petition to the High Court, as in the case above.