LAHORE – Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Dr Usman Anwar has said that people attempting to travel illegally to Europe have changed their routes and are increasingly turning to air travel to reach their destinations.
The FIA DG said many young people sought to travel abroad in pursuit of better economic opportunities and a brighter future. However, he cautioned that conditions in Europe were no longer as favorable as they had been in the past.
Dr Anwar said illegal migrants, commonly referred to as “dunki” travellers, had adapted their methods following increased scrutiny of traditional routes used for irregular migration. According to him, those attempting to enter Europe illegally were now exploring alternative routes and, in some cases, trying to travel by air.
The FIA director general’s remarks come amid continued efforts by Pakistani authorities to curb illegal migration and human trafficking.
The local authorities have been taking action against human smugglers and individuals involved in facilitating irregular travel abroad.
Dr Anwar also said that the third phase of the repatriation of Afghan nationals residing illegally in Pakistan was currently underway. The government has been carrying out a phased repatriation process, with relevant authorities involved in identifying and facilitating the return of undocumented foreign nationals.
The FIA chief acknowledged that the agency was facing shortages of both resources and manpower, which were affecting its ability to deal with its growing responsibilities.
He said the recruitment process was currently underway and expressed hope that the completion of new hiring would help address several of the agency’s operational challenges.
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