From K-P to Europe: How Rawalpindi's visa scam endangers young migrants

K-P youth fall victim to fraudulent Turkish work permits linked to Rawalpindi-based network

A human trafficking network operating out of Rawalpindi has been uncovered, revealing how young men from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s settled and tribal districts are being exploited through fraudulent Turkish work permit visas and steered toward illegal migration routes into Europe.

According to multiple sources, dozens of young men over the past two years have paid large sums for what they believed were legitimate work visas for Turkey. Instead, many were drawn into high-risk land and sea crossings toward Europe, with several arrested during attempted border crossings and others facing dangerous journeys.

Initial findings indicate that the network is more extensive than previously assumed. It involves registered Overseas Employment Promoters (OEPs), delegations from Turkish recruitment agencies, and a chain of local agents operating illegally across the merged tribal districts.

The operation is coordinated mainly from Rawalpindi, where representatives of Turkish firms regularly conduct what sources describe as nominal or staged tests for unskilled labour positions. These assessments are followed by minimal paperwork before applicants are issued work permit visas.

Victims typically travel through major airports in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. Once in Turkey, many discover that the promised jobs do not exist and are instead introduced to facilitators who attempt to push them toward irregular migration routes into Europe.

Sources say traffickers charge two to three times the actual cost of a Turkish work visa, with applicants paying up to Rs1.6 million. Much of this amount is collected by local agents operating in the tribal belt. Investigators have learned that agents often fabricate job openings—such as butchers, factory workers, truck drivers, or dumper operators—to secure visa approvals.

Some victims work briefly in Turkish factories before being contacted by European facilitators who offer to help them cross into Bulgaria, Greece, or other borders for additional fees.

Ateeq Shinwari, hailing from Khyber district, told The Express Tribune that the company took around Rs1.6 million from him, promising to send him to Turkey. “They conducted some tests, saying these were required for a work-permit visa.

After issuing the so-called work permit, they sent us to Turkey, where their agents arranged our onward journey toward Bulgaria through Europe,” he said. “I end up spending more than two years in jail at the Bulgaria border, facing constant threats to your life,” he added.

He further said that a well-organised network operating in Pakistan, Turkey, and other countries is involved in sending people to Europe through illegal routes, which not only costs heavily but also risks lives.

Farid Gul, whose son went missing on the Turkey border while attempting to reach Europe, said he still remembers his child every day. “When the journey is filled with death, it is better to work in our own country,” he said.

He added that parents must advise their children not to choose illegal routes, as these journeys not only involve huge expenses but can also cost lives.

Authorities confirm that several applicants have been arrested in Turkey for attempting irregular crossings. This year alone, at least 16 young men from Landikotal in District Khyber were detained while trying to cross into Bulgaria. Despite these arrests, others are believed to have reached Europe through similar channels.

Sources also report long delays even after visas are issued. In some cases, Turkish companies reportedly close job offers before applicants arrive, leaving visa holders with expired or near-expired permits and no employment. Many then feel compelled to attempt irregular migration to avoid financial losses.

Investigators have also traced violations to several Technical Trade and Test Centres in Punjab and K-P. These centres, which are authorised only for training and skill testing, have been advertising Turkish work permits on social media and linking applicants to agents and foreign recruiters. A detailed audit of their financial records, sources say, would likely reveal extensive irregularities.

An official of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), speaking on condition of anonymity, said the agency is probing multiple fraudulent visa cases. “There is a Risk Assessment Unit in place, and if an officer suspects that a passenger’s documentation or purpose of travel is not genuine, their details are uploaded for further action,” the official said.

He warned that some agents are issuing Turkish and other foreign visas illegally and charging excessive fees. “The FIA is exposing such travel agents. People must remain aware and avoid falling victim to these scammers,” he added.