Saudi Arabia has deported 24,000 Pakistani nationals this year over allegations of organised begging, while the United Arab Emirates has imposed visa restrictions on many Pakistani citizens, citing concerns over involvement in criminal activities.

The measures reflect growing scrutiny by Gulf states on Pakistani nationals amid rising concerns about organised begging and associated criminal behaviour abroad, which Pakistani authorities say is damaging the country’s international reputation.

Data from Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) highlights the scale of the issue. In 2025, authorities offloaded 66,154 passengers at airports in an effort to dismantle organised begging networks and prevent illegal migration.

FIA Director General Riffat Mukhtar warned that these networks are harming Pakistan’s image overseas. He noted that the problem is not limited to the Gulf, citing similar cases involving travel to Africa and Europe, as well as misuse of tourist visas to destinations such as Cambodia and Thailand.

According to Mukhtar, besides Saudi Arabia, Dubai has deported around 6,000 individuals, while Azerbaijan has returned approximately 2,500 Pakistani nationals accused of begging.

The issue had previously attracted attention from Saudi authorities in 2024, when Riyadh urged Pakistan to prevent beggars from exploiting Umrah visas to solicit alms in Mecca and Medina. At the time, the Saudi Ministry of Religious Affairs warned that failure to curb the practice could negatively affect Pakistani Umrah and Hajj pilgrims.

Legal experts in Pakistan have described begging as a structured and organised enterprise rather than an act of desperation. Attorney Rafia Zakaria, writing in Dawn, noted that the begging industry in Pakistan has become highly organised and is now expanding internationally. She highlighted that beggars frequently target pilgrims in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, as well as shoppers in Pakistani markets.

Government officials have raised similar concerns. In 2024, Secretary of Overseas Pakistanis Zeeshan Khanzada estimated that nearly 90% of beggars detained in West Asian countries were Pakistani nationals.

The deportations and tightened visa restrictions underscore the urgent need for Pakistan to address the issue and prevent reputational harm abroad.

Source: Agencies