Pakistan consulate seeks action against firms over human trafficking to UAE.

Byline: Ikram Junaidi

ISLAMABAD -- The Consulate General of Pakistan in Dubai has written to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment seeking action against nine companies allegedly involved in trafficking people from Pakistan to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The letter was written in response to complaints by Pakistani citizens living and working in Dubai. Signed by Community Welfare Attache Saulat Saqib and available with Dawn, the letter informed the FIA that Pakistani citizens have filed applications against companies and agents that they claim are running fake companies in the UAE.

'They issued fake offer letters and visa approvals and charged huge amount from the applicants for their jobs in UAE,' it said.

The letter added: 'It is requested to look into the matter and take necessary action for redressal of grievances of the applicants as per rules and procedure, under intimation to this mission.'

The companies mentioned in the letter include Loyal Force Security, Al Nasir Al Byad Security, Najam Al Falak Security, NAS Security Services, Nokta Technical Services, Red Falcon Facility Management and Jehlam Technical Services.

Letter to FIA, Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment sent in response to complaint by Pakistani citizens living in Dubai

The issue is very sensitive because a large number of Pakistani citizens suffer at the hands of fake agents, PTI MNA Ali Awan from Islamabad told Dawn.

'As I have been in the travel agency business for two decades, I am well aware of the miseries of the people who spend their life savings to travel abroad and in the end are deprived of everything,' he said.

'A number of Pakistanis are hired on promises that they will be...