In a major operation at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested 324 beggars, including 119 women, as part of its crackdown on human trafficking. Among them, two human smugglers were also apprehended.
According to the FIA’s Human Trafficking Circle, 204 individuals were caught at departure gates in 2024 while attempting to leave the country for begging abroad. Another 269 were detained upon arrival after being deported for the same reason.
Officials said many of the individuals were misusing Umrah visas to travel, damaging Pakistan’s global reputation and exposing a growing human trafficking network.
The FIA has responded by blacklisting the passports of those involved and enforcing a five-year travel ban. Their national identity cards and bank accounts have also been blocked.
Despite arresting only two of the 26 suspected agents so far, the FIA says efforts are ongoing to track down the rest of the network. The agency stressed that this campaign is focused not only on stopping illegal travel but also on protecting vulnerable citizens from exploitation under the guise of religious pilgrimage.
