Overseas Pakistanis deported in thousands: What becomes the main cause

ISLAMABAD: Begging and the misuse of visit and religious visas have emerged as the primary reasons behind the growing deportation of Overseas Pakistanis, particularly from Middle Eastern countries, officials revealed during a parliamentary briefing.

The issue was discussed at a meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Rights, where the Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) presented details of recent enforcement actions.

According to the FIA, organised begging networks are the leading cause of deportations. Many individuals travel abroad on Umrah or visit visas and later engage in begging—an offence that carries strict penalties in Gulf states. As a result, Saudi Arabia alone deported around 24,000 Pakistanis this year, making it the largest source of returns.

Officials said that the misuse of visas for illegal work or onward migration has further worsened the situation. Travelers attempting to use Middle Eastern countries as transit points to Europe were either offloaded at airports or deported after arrival. About 6,000 Pakistanis were also deported from the United Arab Emirates on similar grounds.

The committee was informed that human trafficking and begging mafias exploit poverty and unemployment by luring people with false promises of jobs. Once abroad, many fall into illegal activities, leading to arrests, blacklisting, and deportation.

The FIA also highlighted concerns over irregular migration routes, noting that thousands of Pakistanis who traveled to countries like Cambodia and Myanmar on tourist visas failed to return, increasing scrutiny of Pakistani travelers worldwide.

Despite the surge in deportations, officials said stricter enforcement has produced positive results, including a sharp decline in illegal migration to Europe and an improvement in Pakistan’s passport ranking.

Committee members expressed serious concern, stressing that unless poverty-driven migration, visa misuse, and organised begging networks are addressed, deportations of Overseas Pakistanis will continue to rise. They called for tougher action against criminal networks, better travel screening, and greater public awareness to protect genuine overseas workers and Pakistan’s global image.