Interior ministry to remove 5,807 Pakistanis from category 'B' blacklist

At least 5,807 Pakistanis are to be removed from the category 'B' blacklist after Federal Minister for Interior Brig (retd) Ijaz Ahmed Shah ordered the Directorate General Immigration and Passports to convene a meeting of the Periodical Review Committee to reconsider and remove thousands of Pakistanis from the list.

The committee for the review of blacklisted citizens under category 'B' has recommended removal of 5,807 individuals from the list of 42,725. The decision was taken in consideration with all relevant agencies that played a part in the blacklisting of the individual, said a press release from the Ministry of Interior. 

The meeting was held on October 8, 2020, after a period of almost four years. The committee's previous meeting was held on December 1, 2016.

The committee will also consider the rest of the cases in its forthcoming periodic review as per recommendations of the concerned departments, added the statement. 

As per orders by the interior minister, the meetings will be held bi-annually to review cases of the blacklisted individuals after detailed deliberation with the government.

The interior minister further ordered the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports to take all steps for the facilitation of the Pakistani citizens. In addition, he said to ensure transparency and compliance of local and internal laws in this regard.