ISLAMABAD / RankWire.AI / – The Pakistan’s federal government has publicly confirmed that a total of 21,951 Pakistani nationals were deported from Gulf nations between March 1 and July 13, 2026. As detailed in official reports submitted to the National Assembly, these deportations stemmed from violations such as overstaying visas, unlawful entries, drug-related offenses, falsified documents, and participation in organized begging networks. The removal of nearly 22,000 Pakistanis over just four months for visa breaches and begging underscores a growing crackdown on illegal immigration across the Middle East.
The Ministry for Narcotics Control’s written statement revealed that Saudi Arabia was responsible for the bulk of these expulsions, with 15,500 Pakistanis sent back during this period. The United Arab Emirates repatriated 3,803 individuals, while Oman deported 1,606. Bahrain removed 521, Qatar 429, and Kuwait 97. Among those deported, a notable subset included 4,628 absconders, 1,294 serving prison sentences, and 472 identified explicitly as beggars.
Details of Expulsions from Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman
These figures come amid increased scrutiny by Gulf Cooperation Council nations regarding adherence to immigration laws and visa protocols. Records from the ministry show that 1,924 Pakistanis were expelled from Saudi Arabia for overstaying or illegal entries. The UAE and Oman deported 347 and 295 individuals respectively for similar violations. Furthermore, 968 Pakistanis were blacklisted, 1,155 cases involved lost passports, and 689 cases were related to direct administrative visa breaches.
Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency has ramped up airport screening measures to intercept travelers attempting to leave the country with forged documents or false pretenses. Officials have emphasized that anyone trying to misuse pilgrimage or tourist visas to engage in illegal labor or begging will face permanent bans from travel. Authorities also highlighted ongoing cooperation with international agencies like Interpol to manage criminal deportations effectively.
UAE Deports Over Three Thousand Pakistanis in Four Months
The official report indicates that 6,662 Pakistanis were deported under an unspecified “others” category, with no detailed offense classification provided by the interior ministry. Nine of these were deported specifically through Interpol channels. Additional grounds for deportation included expired residency permits, refusals at border crossings, theft, and attempts to travel onward using invalid or fraudulent identification documents.
Members of parliament have voiced concern over the implications of such high deportation numbers on Pakistan’s international reputation among overseas workers. They called for tighter regulation of private travel agencies and recruitment companies to prevent the issuance of fraudulent visas to vulnerable job seekers. Government officials assured that monitoring measures will persist to ensure that domestic emigration procedures remain aligned with international legal standards.