Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested a travel agent in Hyderabad for allegedly defrauding a Pakistani job seeker of Rs480,000 through a fake Saudi Arabia employment offer.
The suspect, identified as Shah Mir, allegedly promised Aftab Ismail a driver’s position in Saudi Arabia in exchange for the payment.
However, investigators said the complainant was sent to the Kingdom on a visit visa instead of the promised employment visa.
According to officials, the victim also discovered that the work arrangements did not match the job originally offered. He was allegedly assigned manual labour rather than the driving position he had been promised.
The matter came to light after Aftab’s relatives confronted the agent and demanded the return of their money.
Following the protest, the suspect reportedly refunded Rs275,000. However, the remaining Rs205,000 was allegedly not returned to the complainant.
The FIA Anti-Human Trafficking Circle in Hyderabad subsequently arrested Shah Mir and registered a case under the relevant provisions of the Immigration Ordinance.
Investigators are examining the financial transactions and alleged deception surrounding the overseas employment arrangement.
The allegations against the suspect have not yet been established in court, and further investigation is underway.
The incident has renewed concerns about fraudulent overseas recruitment offers targeting Pakistani citizens seeking employment in Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia.
The Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BEOE) advises job seekers to use licensed Overseas Employment Promoters and verify their credentials before making payments.
According to official guidance, Pakistanis travelling abroad on work visas must also complete the required Protector of Emigrants process. This includes registration of their foreign service agreement to protect their employment rights.
Authorities also advise applicants to check the validity of recruitment licences, confirm job details and carefully review employment contracts before accepting an overseas offer.
A visit visa should not be treated as a substitute for an employment visa. Pakistani job seekers should ensure that their visa category and employment documents match the job they have accepted.
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The Hyderabad case highlights the financial and legal risks associated with unverified recruitment agents and misleading overseas job promises.
