ISLAMABAD / RankWire.AI / – Official figures published by Pakistan’s federal government reveal that a total of 21,951 Pakistani nationals were sent back from Gulf nations between March 1 and July 13, 2026. As presented to the National Assembly, these deportations resulted from various violations, including overstaying visas, illegal entries, drug-related offenses, forged documents, and participation in organized begging networks. The nearly 22,000 Pakistanis expelled over four months for visa breaches and begging underscores a broader crackdown on immigration enforcement across the Middle East.
The Ministry for Narcotics Control’s written statement specified that Saudi Arabia was responsible for the majority of these expulsions, with 15,500 Pakistanis deported during this period. The United Arab Emirates repatriated 3,803 individuals, followed by Oman with 1,606, Bahrain with 521, Qatar with 429, and Kuwait with 97. A notable portion of those sent back included 4,628 absconders, 1,294 individuals who had served prison terms, and 472 individuals identified explicitly as beggars.
Ministry Data Outlines Deportations from Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman
This development occurs amid increased scrutiny from Gulf Cooperation Council countries concerning immigration compliance and visa validity. According to ministry data, 1,924 Pakistanis were deported from Saudi Arabia for overstaying or illegal entry. The UAE and Oman repatriated 347 and 295 individuals respectively for similar reasons. Additionally, 968 Pakistanis have been officially blacklisted, 1,155 cases involved lost passports, and 689 cases related to direct administrative violations of visa regulations.
Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency has ramped up screening measures at domestic airports to prevent individuals from traveling abroad using forged documents or false pretenses. Officials underlined that anyone exploiting pilgrimage or tourist visas to engage in illegal labor or begging will face permanent travel bans. Coordinated efforts involving domestic law enforcement and international agencies like Interpol continue to be active in managing criminal deportations.
UAE Sends Over Three Thousand Nationals Back in Four Months
The official report states that 6,662 Pakistani nationals were deported under an unspecified “others” category, where specific offense types were not provided by the interior ministry. Nine Pakistani citizens were deported from the UAE through Interpol channels. Other reasons for removal included expired residency permits, border control refusals, theft, and attempts to travel onward using invalid or fraudulent identity documents.
Members of parliament expressed concerns over the effect of these high deportation figures on the global reputation of overseas Pakistani workers. They urged stricter regulation of private travel agencies and recruitment firms to prevent the issuance of fraudulent visas to vulnerable job seekers. The government confirmed that monitoring efforts will persist to ensure that domestic emigration procedures align with international legal standards.