The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) have mandated that passengers holding visit visas must possess round-trip tickets from the same airline for international travel.
This move comes in response to growing concerns about visa violations and illegal immigration.
According to a dispatch sent by the FIA and aviation authority to all domestic and international airlines, strict instructions have been issued not to grant boarding passes to passengers who fail to present a two-way ticket from the same airline. The directive is particularly targeted at travellers to popular destinations such as Bangkok, Malaysia, and Dubai.
For passengers who book separate tickets for their round trip with different airlines, the Passenger Name Record (PNR) number must be identical for both legs of the journey. This is aimed at ensuring that no passenger exploits gaps in airline ticketing systems to stay illegally in foreign countries.
Authorities have also directed to pay close attention to those with low travel profiles to prevent visa overstays or illegal employment abroad. "All travellers with low profiles or inconsistent travel patterns must undergo additional screening as per the new guidelines," said a source familiar with the matter.
These directions are part of an effort to prevent individuals from travelling abroad without proper documentation, as usually passengers don't purchase two-way tickets of the same airline to either slip to other countries, including for employment.
The authorities have also expressed concern over the growing challenges in recovering deportation expenses from passengers who are sent back to Pakistan after violating visa terms. The FIA noted that many deportees return without sufficient resources, leaving airlines and government agencies with the burden of covering their repatriation costs.
