Punjab to crackdown on unregistered travel agents

Tightening its noose around illegal travel agents, the Punjab government has directed all deputy commissioners and district police chiefs to identify unregistered travel agents in their districts and take stern action against them.

Acting on Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's directive, Home Secretary N.S. Kalsi has issued a directive to all the top civil and police officials to crackdown on illegal travel agents through a series of measures to ensure strict compliance with the laws and legislations governing the licensing and operations of travel agents, a spokesperson for the Chief Minister said here on Friday.

Punjab is known for a thriving immigration and travel trade with thousands of people, with youths hell-bent on migrating to other countries even through illegal means.

The unregistered and unscrupulous travel agents take advantage of such people, charge them lakhs of rupees and send them through illegal means to other countries.

In recent years, several youths have died while trying to migrate to other countries while many more are stranded in prisons in other countries.

As part of its drive against unscrupulous agents, the government has come up with new guidelines and instructions to ensure strict compliance with the various laws and legislations governing the registration and functioning of travel agents in Punjab.

--IANS

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