The Ministry of Overseas Pakistan on Tuesday took note of the decision of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to make certification of a grade 18 civil servant mandatory for Pakistanis traveling abroad.
The head of the ministry, Ghulam Mustafa Malik, said Sunrise that Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain called the move “unacceptable.”
“Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain has expressed reservations and said that any decision that causes difficulties for overseas Pakistanis in traveling will not be accepted,” Malik said.
“Although human trafficking is a big problem, it would be appropriate to avoid any measures that could cause travel difficulties to overseas Pakistanis and the workforce traveling abroad in search of employment.”
Malik said the ministry has sent a clear message that the government is serious about protecting citizens’ fundamental rights and that no institution “shall impose unnecessary restrictions on public freedoms.”
“Now all Pakistanis who have a valid Protector Certificate will be able to travel abroad without obstacles and with peace of mind,” the coordinator said.
Overseas Pakistanis are major contributors to the economy through foreign remittances. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) last month said remittances from foreign workers witnessed an increase of 8.41 per cent during the first quarter (July-September) of fiscal year 2025-26.
Year-on-year, the SBP said workers’ remittances rose 11.33 percent in September to $3.183 billion from $2.859 billion during the same month last year.
