FIA plans immigration automation with e-gates as int’l passenger traffic tops 22m

• Int’l traffic includes 11.09m arrivals, 11.55m departures.
• E-gates expected to accelerate clearance by 70-80%.
• FIA expands digital systems to modernise immigration.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan handled more than 22.65 million international passenger movements during 2025, reflecting the scale of cross-border travel through its airports.

The official data showed that 22,650,199 passenger movements were processed during the year, comprising 11,097,240 arrivals and 11,552,959 departures, The News reported citing official data on Tuesday.

On the day covered by the report, Pakistan’s international entry and exit points recorded 51,517 passenger movements across 295 arriving and departing flights. The six airports together accounted for 49,181 passenger movements and 285 flights, with the remaining 2,336 passenger movements and 10 flights recorded at other international entry and exit points.

Against this backdrop, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is introducing greater automation and digital verification at immigration counters.

FIA Additional Director General Immigration Nouman Siddiqui told The News that under Director General Dr Usman Anwar, a comprehensive plan is being implemented to facilitate genuine travellers while strengthening checks against illegal travel and fraudulent documents.

Siddiqui said the FIA, he said, was working to make immigration processing faster, safer and more convenient for legitimate travellers. A key component is the introduction of automated e-gates, initially as a pilot project. Eligible travellers, including work-permit holders and others whose credentials can be digitally verified, will be able to complete immigration formalities through automated systems.

Siddiqui said automated processing was expected to make immigration clearance for eligible passengers 70 to 80% faster. The FIA is also improving mechanisms for handling passenger complaints and identifying operational bottlenecks.

At the same time, the agency is expanding the use of technology to detect fake passports, fraudulent visas and other forged or suspicious travel documents, while continuing action against human smuggling and illegal migration. Digital verification will enable genuine passengers to be cleared more quickly and forged documents to be detected at an early stage.

Siddiqui said e-gates, digital document verification, clearer procedures, passenger complaint mechanisms and improved inter-agency coordination formed part of the broader modernisation programme.