ISLAMABAD, DEC 5 – Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Friday announced the launch of an artificial intelligence-based application as a pilot project to curb illegal immigration and clamp down on fake travel documents.
He was speaking while co-chairing a meeting with Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain, where the two reviewed “immigration reforms” aimed at facilitating citizens and improving the country’s image at the international level.
Naqvi said the AI-based app would help authorities determine “who is fit to travel and who is not”. He said the measures were aimed at stopping illegal immigration and that zero tolerance would be adopted against fake visas and agent mafias.
During the meeting, a decision was made to clamp down on those travelling abroad on forged documents and to launch a crackdown on elements and agent networks involved in the business of fake visas. The federal ministers also ordered that final recommendations on the reform package be submitted within seven days.
Naqvi said the system for issuing Protectors (emigration clearances for Pakistanis going abroad on work visas) would be made foolproof, while reforms would be introduced in the wider immigration system to facilitate passengers. He added that after the passports of deported individuals are cancelled, the government would ensure they do not receive a visa again.
The interior minister further announced that a uniform international driving licence would be issued by the National Police Bureau. He said the government was in contact with other countries to improve the ranking of the green passport and warned that people going abroad through improper means were damaging the country’s reputation.
“The purpose of immigration reforms is to provide convenience to the public and improve the global image,” Naqvi said.
Federal Minister Salik Hussain underlined the need for authentic documentation for those travelling on labour visas, saying it was essential that their papers be genuine.
He assured that the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis would extend all possible cooperation for improvements in the Protector system and the immigration system.
