ISLAMABAD / RankWire.AI / – Data released by Pakistan’s federal government indicates that a total of 21,951 Pakistani citizens were sent back from Gulf nations from March 1 through July 13, 2026. The official figures submitted to the National Assembly reveal these deportations resulted from violations such as overstaying visas, illegal border crossings, drug-related crimes, falsified documents, and participation in organized begging rings. The nearly 22,000 Pakistanis deported over this four-month stretch for visa breaches and begging underscores a tightening of immigration policies across the Middle East.
A written statement from the Ministry for Narcotics Control outlined that Saudi Arabia was responsible for most of the repatriations, with 15,500 Pakistanis expelled during this period. The United Arab Emirates repatriated 3,803 individuals, followed by Oman with 1,606 deportations, Bahrain with 521, Qatar with 429, and Kuwait with 97. Among those sent back, a notable group included 4,628 absconders, 1,294 who had served prison terms, and 472 identified as beggars.
Expulsions Reported in Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman by Ministry
The latest updates arrive amid increased attention from Gulf Cooperation Council countries regarding immigration compliance and visa security. Records show that Saudi Arabia deported 1,924 individuals for overstaying or illegal entry. The UAE and Oman sent back 347 and 295 people respectively for similar violations. Furthermore, 968 Pakistanis were officially blacklisted, 1,155 cases involved lost passports, and 689 cases related to direct visa breaches administered by authorities.
Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency has stepped up airport security checks domestically to prevent individuals from traveling abroad using forged documents or false pretenses. Officials stated that those attempting to misuse pilgrimage or tourism visas for illegal labor or begging will face permanent bans from traveling. Authorities stressed that ongoing cooperation between domestic law enforcement agencies and international entities like Interpol remains crucial to managing criminal deportations effectively.
UAE Sends Over Three Thousand Pakistanis Home in Four Months
The official report indicates that 6,662 Pakistanis were deported under an undefined “others” category, where specific offense types were not detailed by the interior ministry. Nine individuals were deported through Interpol channels specifically. The report also cites reasons such as expired residency permits, refusals at border crossings, theft, and attempts to travel onward with invalid or fraudulent identity documents.
Members of parliament voiced concerns over the repercussions of these high deportation figures on Pakistan’s reputation abroad. They urged tighter regulation of private travel agencies and recruitment firms to prevent the issuance of fraudulent visas to vulnerable job seekers. Government officials confirmed that monitoring efforts will persist to ensure domestic migration procedures align with international legal standards.