ISLAMABAD: The government has enacted a new policy that bans citizens deported from foreign countries from traveling abroad for five years.
Interior Ministry sources say the individuals deported due to criminal or other “undesirable” activities would be put on the list of deported Pakistanis banned from travelling abroad.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has formally notified the Senate of the new Passport Control List (PCL) Policy in a written statement. Under the policy, the names of deported individuals will be placed on the PCL for five years, during which time they will be unable to obtain a new passport or travel internationally. The written response from the ministry clarified that the five-year travel ban applied specifically to those deported for illegal actions, criminal charges or other “undesirable” activities. The policy also includes provisions for extending the ban beyond five years, provided the relevant government department submits a formal request with a detailed justification. The passport regulations, which have been approved by the federal cabinet, are intended to monitor and control the activities of individuals with a history of misconduct abroad. This move signals a stricter approach by the government to manage citizens who have been returned to Pakistan due to legal or behavioral issues in other countries.
