Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed a special committee to address the long-standing issue of offloading passengers at airports. Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain has been appointed as chairman. The move aims to protect travelers, especially workers seeking employment abroad.
According to officials, the committee includes key institutions such as NADRA, FIA, the Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry of IT. These bodies will jointly review existing procedures and identify flaws causing unnecessary passenger offloading. The committee will submit its recommendations to the prime minister within three weeks.
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Meanwhile, Chaudhry Salik Hussain is widely known for advocating the rights of overseas Pakistanis and migrant workers. His efforts have helped open employment opportunities for Pakistani talent in Europe and Arab countries. Demand for Pakistani workers has notably increased in Qatar, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia.
In addition, agreements with countries such as Italy and Belarus are also considered major achievements under his leadership. Officials believe his experience will help resolve issues faced by overseas job seekers. The government hopes this initiative will restore confidence among travelers.
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The issue of offloading passengers despite valid protector visas has caused serious financial and emotional distress to workers. Authorities clarified that passengers holding valid protector documents will no longer be offloaded. Furthermore, stricter action will be taken against human smugglers exploiting vulnerable individuals.
The government also announced special steps to safeguard the rights of overseas Pakistanis through improved coordination and transparency. Officials said these measures aim to ensure fair treatment at airports. They added that ending unjust offloading remains a top priority.