New policy: Pakistan to introduce new authority for passport control at airports

Dubai: Pakistan is planning to introduce a new passport control authority relieving the existing Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) from this responsibility.

The moves comes after recent tragedies related to human trafficking, which have resulted in numerous deaths, alongside an increasing number of illegal border crossings from Iran, Afghanistan, and India. The moves comes in the wake of recent incidents of human trafficking which lead to the death of dozens of ‘illegal’ travellers abroad.

Border security

The Pakistan government has intensified its push to establish a new Passports and Border Control Authority (PBCA) to beef up border security. The body will take over all immigration and border security responsibilities, centralising these functions under a single command.

The proposal suggests reducing some of the Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) responsibilities, particularly in the Immigration Wing, and incorporating the Directorate General of Immigration & Passports under an upgraded leadership structure, Dawn news reported.

Pakistan’s armed forces and several civil law enforcement agencies oversee the country’s 7,500 km border and 1,000 km coastline, approximately 16 to 18 key entry and exit points demand heightened vigilance.

Why new authority

An official explained that past attempts to create the authority were primarily hindered by passport-related challenges. But with human trafficking and smuggling becoming more pressing concerns, the proposal has now taken on greater urgency as a matter of national security.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to spearhead the reform process, addressing bureaucratic delays to ensure swift and effective implementation of the changes needed to protect citizens.

Autonomous body

The proposal envisions the creation of an autonomous authority to manage immigration and border security, a structure already adopted by several regional countries. India, for example, has a Bureau of Immigration to handle immigration matters, while the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) focuses on white-collar crime. Similarly, Bangladesh separates its immigration and passport controls from its anti-corruption efforts, and Iran has distinct agencies for managing immigration and financial crimes.

According to the proposal, the current overlap between immigration and law enforcement is inefficient and prone to corruption. A dedicated PBCA would improve border control, reduce human trafficking, and prevent further tragedies.

To facilitate quick action, the government aims to pass the necessary legislation within the month, with implementation expected to occur within six months.

Who will lead

Key to this will be the appointment of a senior civil servant to lead the authority. This leader will be supported by additional senior officials overseeing the central, southern, and northern borders, as well as officers at each major entry-exit point. Military or administrative experience will be a key qualification for staff to ensure operational efficiency.

The transition from the FIA to the new authority is expected to take about two months after the legislation is passed, with the authority fully operational shortly thereafter.