In a shocking and unprecedented move, passengers holding Punjab-issued passports have reportedly been barred from traveling abroad through Karachi Airport, sources confirmed on Wednesday.

The decision, implemented quietly by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), has sparked confusion and outrage among affected travelers.

According to reliable sources, the FIA has enforced an unannounced travel restriction targeting passengers with Punjab-issued passports, resulting in dozens being offloaded over the past two days. Officers stationed at Karachi Airport have been directed to file detailed reports twice a day—morning and evening—about every passenger stopped from boarding international flights.

One of the most striking incidents occurred on Saudi Airlines flight SV709, where 57 passengers were reportedly offloaded before departure. Among them were 35 Umrah pilgrims and 22 individuals traveling on valid work visas. The move has affected not just Saudi Airlines but all private and foreign carriers, including Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

Travelers have expressed frustration over the Punjab-issued passports ban, calling it discriminatory and financially devastating. Many passengers claim to have lost thousands of rupees, as their airline tickets were rendered useless after being denied boarding. Insiders estimate that millions of rupees have already been lost collectively in just two days due to this sudden and unexplained enforcement.

The FIA has not yet issued any official clarification or statement regarding the reasoning behind this unannounced travel restriction.