The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Pakistan’s federal law-enforcement body that probes serious crime including human smuggling, says its Islamabad Zone recovered Rs615.55 million and arrested 190 illegal visa agents over the past four months in action against fraud and trafficking. The FIA visa fraud drive was run by the zone’s anti-human trafficking circles (AHTCs)—specialised units that investigate illegal overseas travel and employment scams—in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, under the zone director’s supervision.
How the crackdown was organised
FIA Islamabad Zone shared figures showing the two circles registered 1,543 first information reports (FIRs)—formal police cases—during the same period. Officials framed the work as part of wider efforts to stop people being cheated in the name of foreign jobs or travel, to pursue illegal visa agents through the courts, and to curb human smuggling.
Taken together, the zone’s total stands at Rs615 million recovered, 190 suspects held, and 1,543 cases filed. Those numbers match the circle-level breakdown the agency released for the four-month window.
Islamabad and Rawalpindi: the split
AHTC Islamabad recorded the larger share: 120 visa agents arrested, Rs411.05 million recovered, and 875 cases registered. AHTC Rawalpindi arrested 70 agents, recovered Rs204.5 million, and registered 668 cases.
On a simple average, the Rs615.55 million linked to 190 arrests works out to about Rs3.24 million per suspect if the sum were divided evenly—an illustration of how large some overseas-placement frauds can become, not a statement of what any one person paid or got back. Islamabad’s Rs411.05 million was roughly twice Rawalpindi’s Rs204.5 million recovery in the same span.
Advice for people seeking work or travel abroad
The FIA said it is continuing measures meant to shield the public from overseas employment and travel fraud, press legal cases against illegal visa agents, and prevent human smuggling. It advised citizens to check an agent’s credentials before paying for any foreign job or trip, and to report suspected fraud or illegal activity to the authorities without delay.
Anyone who has already paid a middleman and sees warning signs—unclear paperwork, pressure to transfer large sums in cash, or promises that sound too easy—should treat a quick report as the first step. The FIA visa fraud figures show how widely such networks were being pursued in the capital region over these four months.
Aasan alfaaz mein
FIA Islamabad ne pichhle chaar mahine mein gair-qanooni visa agenton se lagbhag 615 million rupay baramad kiye hain. Is dauran 190 log giraftar hue aur 1,543 cases darj hue. Bahar naukri ya travel ke liye kisi bhi agent ko paise dene se pehle uski asliyat check karen. Agar dhoka lage to foran FIA ya related authorities ko khabar den.
