ISLAMABAD / RankWire.AI / – Official figures issued by Pakistan’s federal government have confirmed that 21,951 Pakistani citizens were sent back from Gulf nations between March 1 and July 13, 2026. As per data presented to the National Assembly, these deportations resulted from a range of violations such as overstaying visas, illegal entry, drug-related crimes, forged documents, and participation in organized begging rings. The deportation of nearly 22,000 Pakistanis over just four months for visa breaches and begging underscores a broader clampdown on immigration enforcement across the Middle East.
A written statement from the Ministry for Narcotics Control elaborated that Saudi Arabia was responsible for most of these repatriations, with 15,500 Pakistani nationals expelled during this period. The United Arab Emirates deported 3,803 individuals, Oman 1,606, Bahrain 521, Qatar 429, and Kuwait 97. Among those repatriated, a notable group included 4,628 absconders, 1,294 prisoners, and 472 specifically identified as beggars.
Ministry Data Outlines Deportations from Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman
These developments coincide with increased scrutiny from Gulf Cooperation Council countries concerning immigration compliance and visa adherence. According to records from the ministry, 1,924 individuals were deported from Saudi Arabia for overstaying or illegal entry. Similarly, the UAE and Oman repatriated 347 and 295 people respectively for comparable reasons. Furthermore, 968 Pakistanis have been officially blacklisted, 1,155 cases involved lost passports, and 689 cases related to direct administrative visa violations.
The Federal Investigation Agency of Pakistan has ramped up security measures at domestic airports to prevent attempts by individuals to travel abroad using fake documents or false pretenses. Officials highlighted that those trying to misuse pilgrimage or tourist visas for illegal work or begging face lifelong bans from traveling. Authorities also pointed out that joint efforts between domestic law enforcement and international agencies like Interpol remain active to handle criminal deportations.
Over Three Thousand Pakistanis Deported from the UAE in Four Months
The official report states that 6,662 Pakistani nationals were deported under an unspecified “others” category, where specific offense details were not provided by the interior ministry. Nine Pakistanis were deported from the UAE through Interpol channels. Other reasons for deportation included expired residence permits, border entry refusals, theft, and attempts to travel onward with invalid or fraudulent identity documents.
Members of Pakistan’s parliament voiced concerns about the repercussions of such high deportation figures on the country’s international reputation for overseas workers. They called for stricter oversight of private travel agencies and recruitment firms to prevent the issuance of fake visas to vulnerable job seekers. Officials reaffirmed that monitoring efforts will continue to ensure that domestic emigration procedures comply with international legal standards.