ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested nine employees and representatives of two Islamabad-based labs on the charge of their issuing fake Covid-19 negative reports to travellers intending to go abroad.

Cases have been registered against the owners and staff of the labs and physical remand of the suspects has been obtained from court for further investigation.

The immigration department of FIA had found some negative Covid reports of travellers doubtful and shared them with the investigation wing. The reports were issued by two labs located in G-8 and Blue Area of Islamabad.

During the investigation, it was revealed that the record of reports was not available with both the labs.

The owners and staff of the labs had allegedly developed links with some travel agents and had issued fake negative reports.

The travel agents allegedly sent copies of passports to the labs and within five to 10 minutes got negative reports without submission of any sample. It was also revealed that fake reports were prepared only for foreign travel.

The investigation was done on the directions of FIA Islamabad Zone Director Waqar Ahmed Chohan and headed by Deputy Director Zubair Ahmed Sheikh.

The agency arrested the nine employees of the two labs which were found involved in issuance of reports without getting samples.

It may be noted that travellers face financial loss in cases of positive reports as they are not allowed to travel due to which some of the amount of ticket is deducted and in case of prior booking for quarantine facility the amount/fee is not refunded.

Mr Chohan said physical remand of all nine suspects had been obtained from the court and further investigation was going on.

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2022