ISLAMABAD: Overseas job seekers in Pakistan have been urged to stay alert after warnings were issued about fraud schemes targeting people seeking employment abroad. Pakistanis planning to work overseas should avoid travel-agency scams and should never hand over money based solely on promises made by agents, the Bureau of Immigration and Overseas Employment said.
Authorities emphasized that the primary role of travel agencies is limited to booking travel tickets and arranging hotel reservations. The bureau said travel agencies have no legal involvement in the process of obtaining overseas work visas or securing employment abroad, and they do not hold any lawful connection to job placement or visa issuance.
In its awareness message, the bureau warned that job-seekers should not pay agencies under any circumstances for employment or visa-related promises. Instead, candidates were advised to use the Foreign Jobs Portal on the bureau’s official website.
The bureau said the portal provides access to information on licensed recruiting agencies and allows candidates to establish direct contact with them. It added that this approach helps significantly reduce the risk of fraud and illegal recruitment.
The bureau also directed that if any travel agency attempts to cheat or collects money illegally while claiming it can arrange overseas employment, affected individuals should immediately report the matter to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) so legal action can be taken.
The bureau concluded by urging citizens to verify job opportunities abroad only through the official Foreign Jobs Portal and to avoid relying on unverified sources or intermediaries.
