A day before the date of registration for travel agents was to expire, the Punjab Government on Friday extended the same by a month to December 31.
To keep a tab on illegal activities by unscrupulous travel agents, the Government had issued directions requiring the registration of travel agents, emigration consultants and ticketing agents, said Principal Secretary (Home) DS Bains.
“Then Punjab Government has extended the date of registration for travel agents by December 31. Earlier, the date was November 30,” he said.
This is not for the first time the date has been extended. Initially, the State Government has decided to complete the process of registration by October, but the last date was extended to November 30, and now by December 31.
The directions come under the Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Act, 2012, passed by the State Assembly the previous year to prevent malpractices, including human trafficking and exploiting many innocent people through fraudulent activities by agents.
“All Deputy Commissioners have been asked to ensure that each licence should bear a unique number to be quoted by the licensees,” said Bains.