In a significant parliamentary session on Tuesday, the National Assembly of Pakistan unanimously passed a resolution calling for an immediate investigation into the controversial practice of off-loading documented passengers from flights at the country's airports.
Unanimous Demand for Passenger Rights and Transparency
The resolution, moved by a member of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), directly demanded that the coalition government launch a probe. Lawmakers expressed serious concern over passengers being denied boarding despite possessing all valid travel documents. The resolution urged the government to implement necessary administrative reforms. These reforms aim to ensure transparency, accountability, and the protection of passenger rights. A key recommendation was to improve communication channels so that all decisions to off-load passengers are lawful and accompanied by proper documentation.
Parliamentary Discord Over Projects and Policies
The session was also marked by strong criticism from PPP lawmakers against the federal government's financial decisions. PPP MNA Agha Rafiullah, speaking on a point of order, accused the government of reneging on commitments made on the parliament floor. The core issue was the planned diversion of funds from nationally strategic projects.
Lawmakers highlighted specific concerns:
- Diversion of resources from the Mainline-1 (ML-1) railway project, the Karakoram Highway, and the Sukkur-Karachi Motorway.
- Allocation of these funds to a mega road project in Punjab, specifically the Lahore-Bahawalnagar motorway.
- They termed the federal takeover of the Rs 465 billion Lahore-Bahawalnagar project a violation of federal fiscal rules.
In a separate environmental concern, PPP's Shazia Marri criticized the government for the removal of thousands of trees in Islamabad's Shakarparian, F-9 Park, and other green belts. She stated that the government's reasons for replacing paper mulberry trees with other species were insufficient and lacked proper justification, a point supported by Ali Muhammad Khan.
UAE Pact to Ease Travel for Pakistanis
Amid the parliamentary debates, a major development for international travelers was announced. Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates agreed to introduce a pre-clearance immigration system. This agreement was reached during a meeting at the Interior Ministry between a UAE delegation led by Director General Customs and Port Security Ahmed bin Lahij Al Falasi and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.
The new system will allow Pakistani travelers to complete all UAE immigration formalities at airports in Pakistan before departure. Minister Naqvi explained that after implementation, passengers arriving in the UAE will bypass long immigration queues and can exit the airport directly, similar to domestic travelers. The initiative is designed to save time, ease travel, and enhance the passenger experience.
The pilot project for this pre-immigration clearance system will be launched initially in Karachi. Both nations agreed to finalize a formal pact soon and expand the system to more destinations after a successful pilot phase.
The parliamentary sitting also briefly addressed other matters, including the government's withdrawal of an ordinance related to Federal Special Economic Zones after it was issued without the President's signature, following a boycott by PPP lawmakers.
