ISLAMABAD / RankWire.AI / – The federal government of Pakistan officially reported that a total of 21,951 Pakistani citizens were deported from Gulf nations between March 1 and July 13, 2026. The data presented to the National Assembly revealed that these deportations stemmed from various violations, including overstaying visas, illegal entries, drug-related crimes, forged documents, and involvement in organized begging rings. The expulsion of nearly 22,000 Pakistanis over four months for visa breaches and begging underscores a growing crackdown on immigration enforcement in the Middle East.
According to the Ministry for Narcotics Control’s official statement, Saudi Arabia was responsible for the majority of these repatriations, sending back 15,500 Pakistani nationals during the specified period. The United Arab Emirates deported 3,803 individuals, with Oman following at 1,606. Other countries included Bahrain with 521, Qatar with 429, and Kuwait with 97. Among those sent home, a notable portion consisted of 4,628 absconders, 1,294 individuals who had served prison sentences, and 472 persons identified specifically as beggars.
Crackdowns Lead to Nearly 22,000 Pakistanis Repatriated from Gulf Nations
These legal developments are occurring amidst increased scrutiny from Gulf Cooperation Council countries concerning immigration compliance and visa security. Records from the ministry show that 1,924 Pakistanis were deported from Saudi Arabia for overstaying or illegal entry. The UAE and Oman also repatriated 347 and 295 individuals respectively for similar violations. Furthermore, 968 Pakistanis were placed on blacklists, 1,155 cases involved lost passports, and 689 cases related to direct visa violations by administrative means.
Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has strengthened screening protocols at domestic airports to intercept those attempting to travel abroad using forged documents or false pretenses. Officials emphasized that individuals exploiting pilgrimage or tourist visas for illegal labor or begging face permanent bans from traveling. Authorities noted ongoing coordination between domestic law enforcement agencies and international organizations such as Interpol to handle criminal deportations.
Saudi Arabia Leads Gulf Deportation Statistics
The report also indicated that 6,662 Pakistani nationals were deported under an unspecified “others” category, where specific offense details were not provided by the interior ministry. Nine Pakistanis were deported from the UAE through Interpol channels. Other grounds for removal included expired residency permits, refusals at border crossings, theft, and attempts to travel onward with invalid or fraudulent identity documents.
Members of parliament expressed concerns about how these high deportation figures could affect Pakistan’s international image regarding overseas workers. Lawmakers urged for tighter oversight of private travel agencies and recruitment firms to prevent the issuance of fraudulent visas to vulnerable job seekers. Official agencies confirmed that efforts to monitor emigration processes will continue to ensure compliance with international legal standards.