Thousands of Pakistanis Deported for Begging From Multiple Countries

Thousands of Pakistani nationals have been deported from several countries this year after being found involved in begging activities, raising serious concerns about migration practices and Pakistan’s international image.

The disclosure was made by officials of the Federal Investigation Agency during a meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Rights. The session was chaired by MNA Agha Rafiullah and focused on challenges faced by Pakistani migrants abroad.

According to the FIA Director General, a total of 51,000 Pakistanis were offloaded or deported from different countries in 2025 due to their involvement in begging or related activities. The scale of the issue highlighted growing scrutiny by host countries and stricter enforcement of immigration laws.

Saudi Arabia emerged as the country with the highest number of deportations, sending back approximately 24,000 Pakistani nationals. Officials noted that many of these individuals were found engaging in street begging, which violates local laws and visa conditions.

The United Arab Emirates ranked second on the list, deporting nearly 6,000 Pakistanis for similar reasons. Authorities in the UAE have repeatedly warned against misuse of visit and work visas, particularly in cases involving organised begging networks.

Azerbaijan was also among the countries taking action, deporting around 2,500 Pakistani nationals. FIA officials said the issue is not limited to Gulf states but is increasingly being flagged by countries across different regions.

During the briefing, the FIA chief revealed that several Pakistanis attempting to travel to Europe were intercepted at airports after falsely claiming they were travelling for Umrah. Investigations showed that these individuals were using forged or misleading travel documents as cover for illegal migration.

Officials clarified that only those passengers who provided documented false claims or fake paperwork were offloaded. Legitimate pilgrims were not affected, and the action was aimed solely at curbing abuse of religious travel routes.

The FIA stressed that organised begging rings often exploit vulnerable individuals by sending them abroad on visit visas, where they are instructed to beg and send money back to handlers. This practice not only violates immigration laws but also damages Pakistan’s global reputation.

Members of the parliamentary committee expressed concern over the alarming figures and urged stronger preventive measures. They emphasized the need for awareness campaigns, stricter screening at airports, and tougher action against travel agents involved in illegal practices.

The committee was informed that FIA has intensified monitoring at major airports and is coordinating with foreign governments to identify and dismantle transnational begging networks.

Officials also highlighted the importance of economic opportunities at home to discourage risky and unlawful migration. Without addressing unemployment and poverty, they warned, such trends may continue.

The revelations have sparked renewed debate about responsible travel, visa misuse, and the need for comprehensive migration reforms to protect both citizens and the country’s standing abroad.