Pakistan: The Federal Investigation Agency is moving to automate immigration processing through e-gates and digital verification as international passenger traffic exceeded 22.65 million movements in 2025, official data showed.
A total of 22,650,199 international passenger movements were recorded during the year, including 11,097,240 arrivals and 11,552,959 departures, according to official data cited by The News.
The figures highlight the growing volume of travellers passing through Pakistan’s international airports and entry points, increasing the need for faster immigration processing and stronger document verification.
FIA Additional Director General Immigration Nouman Siddiqui said the agency was implementing a comprehensive plan to modernise immigration services under Director General Dr Usman Anwar.
Can E-Gates Cut Immigration Clearance Times by Up to 80%?
The plan includes the introduction of automated e-gates on a pilot basis. Eligible travellers, including work-permit holders and passengers whose credentials can be digitally verified, will be able to complete immigration procedures through automated systems.
According to Siddiqui, the automated process could reduce immigration clearance times for eligible passengers by 70% to 80%.
The FIA is also working to improve passenger complaint mechanisms and identify operational bottlenecks at immigration counters as part of the broader effort to make border processing faster and more efficient.
On one reported day, Pakistan’s international entry and exit points processed 51,517 passenger movements across 295 arriving and departing flights.
Six major airports accounted for 49,181 passenger movements and 285 flights, while other international entry and exit points handled 2,336 passenger movements across 10 flights.
Will Digital Verification Strengthen Checks Against Illegal Travel?
Alongside faster processing, the FIA is expanding the use of digital systems to detect fake passports, fraudulent visas and other forged or suspicious travel documents.
Officials said digital verification would allow genuine travellers to be cleared more quickly while enabling immigration authorities to identify fraudulent documentation at an earlier stage.
The agency will also continue action against human smuggling and illegal migration as part of the immigration modernisation programme.
Siddiqui said e-gates, digital document verification, clearer procedures, passenger complaint mechanisms and improved coordination among relevant agencies would form key components of the initiative.
The automation drive comes as Pakistan’s international passenger traffic continues to place greater demands on immigration infrastructure, with authorities seeking to improve travel facilitation while maintaining stronger controls against document fraud, illegal migration and human smuggling.