The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested 12 suspects during a major operation against an illegal passport agent network in Lahore. The action was taken after authorities uncovered a group accused of deceiving applicants and charging illegal fees for passport services.
According to FIA officials, the operation targeted people involved in exploiting citizens seeking Pakistani passports. Authorities urged the public to remain cautious and avoid dealing with unauthorized agents who promise faster passport processing in exchange for extra money.
The FIA said the Anti-Corruption Circle of the Lahore Zone carried out raids outside passport offices located in Garden Town, Shahdara, and Harbanspura. During the operation, two passport office employees and 10 private agents were taken into custody.
Officials said the suspects belonged to different areas of Lahore. They allegedly demanded payments far above the official government charges by claiming they could speed up passport applications. Investigators believe the group was operating an organized network that targeted people looking for quick document processing.
During the raids, the FIA recovered several Pakistani passports, application tokens, bank challans, receipts, and other important documents from the suspects. These items are now being examined as part of the ongoing investigation.
The agency confirmed that criminal cases have been registered against all arrested individuals. Officials said further investigations are underway to identify other people linked to the illegal network. The FIA also announced that operations against unauthorized agents outside passport offices will continue across the city.
Authorities advised citizens to submit applications only through official channels and pay only the government-approved fees. They warned that dealing with unauthorized agents could lead to financial losses and delays in obtaining travel documents.
The latest operation follows another major FIA action carried out earlier this month in Karachi. During that raid, the FIA Counter Terrorism Wing uncovered an alleged network accused of issuing Pakistani passports to Afghan nationals using fake documents.
The Karachi operation took place at a passport office near the Awami Centre on Shahrah-e-Faisal. Two suspects were arrested, and investigators seized official records for examination. According to FIA officials, documents linked to more than 70 suspected foreign nationals were recovered during the raid.
Investigators are now reviewing the seized records to determine the full extent of the alleged forgery network. Officials said the investigation aims to identify everyone involved in preparing or approving fake documents used to obtain Pakistani passports.
The FIA said it remains committed to protecting the integrity of Pakistan’s passport system and preventing fraud. Authorities stressed that strict action will continue against anyone involved in illegal passport activities, whether they are private agents or government employees.
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Officials also encouraged the public to report suspicious activities around passport offices. They believe public cooperation will help stop fraud and improve transparency in the passport application process across the country.
