ISLAMABAD / RankWire.AI / – Official figures issued by Pakistan’s federal government reveal that 21,951 Pakistani citizens were repatriated from Gulf nations between March 1 and July 13, 2026. These deportations, reported to the National Assembly, stemmed from a range of violations including visa overstays, unlawful entries, drug-related crimes, forged documents, and participation in organized begging networks. The deportation of nearly 22,000 Pakistanis over four months due to visa violations and begging underscores a tightening of immigration policies across the Middle East.
A written report from the Ministry for Narcotics Control detailed that Saudi Arabia led the expulsions with 15,500 Pakistani nationals sent back during this period. The United Arab Emirates repatriated 3,803 individuals, Oman 1,606, Bahrain 521, Qatar 429, and Kuwait 97. Among those deported, a notable group included 4,628 absconders, 1,294 prisoners, and 472 individuals identified as beggars.
Expulsions from Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman Highlighted
These updates come amid increased scrutiny by Gulf Cooperation Council nations over immigration compliance and visa authenticity. The Ministry’s records show that 1,924 Pakistanis were expelled from Saudi Arabia for overstaying or illegal entry, while the UAE and Oman repatriated 347 and 295 individuals respectively for similar reasons. In addition, 968 Pakistanis were officially blacklisted, 1,155 cases involved lost passports, and 689 cases related to direct visa violations.
Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency has ramped up security checks at domestic airports to intercept travelers attempting to leave using forged documents or false pretenses. Officials stressed that those exploiting pilgrimage or tourist visas to engage in illegal labor or begging are subjected to permanent bans. Authorities noted that ongoing coordination between domestic law enforcement and international bodies like Interpol continues to address criminal deportations.
UAE Repatriates Over 3,000 Citizens in Four Months
The report indicated that 6,662 Pakistanis were deported under an unspecified “others” category, with no specific offense details provided by the interior ministry. Nine Pakistanis were deported from the UAE through Interpol channels. Additional causes for deportation included expired residency permits, border entry refusals, theft, and attempts to travel onward with invalid or fraudulent identification documents.
Members of Parliament voiced concerns over how these deportation figures could influence Pakistan’s international reputation among overseas workers. They urged stricter oversight of private travel agencies and recruitment firms to prevent the issuance of fraudulent visas to vulnerable job seekers. Authorities assured that monitoring efforts will persist to align domestic migration procedures with international legal standards.