In a significant development concerning overseas Pakistani workers, authorities in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have deported tens of thousands of nationals on charges of begging. The startling figures were disclosed during a parliamentary committee meeting in Islamabad, shedding light on broader issues of illegal migration and travel violations.
Mass Deportations from Gulf Nations
Saudi Arabia has deported approximately 24,000 Pakistani nationals this year over allegations of engaging in begging. Similarly, the United Arab Emirates sent back around 6,000 individuals on identical grounds. These details were presented to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Rights, chaired by Agha Rafiullah.
The Director General of Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Riffat Mukhtar Raja, briefed the lawmakers. He revealed that a total of 51,000 Pakistanis were denied entry into various foreign countries in the current year. Beyond the Gulf, Azerbaijan also expelled about 2,500 Pakistanis for begging-related offences.
FIA Crackdown on Illegal Travel and Concerning Trends
Raja informed the committee about intensified airport monitoring. Authorities intercepted several passengers traveling for Umrah (the Islamic pilgrimage) after discovering documents indicating their actual intent was to illegally enter Europe. "Those passengers were denied entry based on evidence," the FIA chief stated.
The briefing also highlighted alarming travel patterns to Southeast Asia. This year, 24,000 Pakistanis travelled to Cambodia, but half of them—12,000—have not returned. Furthermore, around 4,000 people visited Myanmar on tourist visas, with approximately 2,500 currently unaccounted for, raising serious concerns about potential trafficking or illegal settlement networks.
Improvements in Passport Ranking and Decline in Illegal Migration
On a positive note, DG FIA Riffat Mukhtar Raja attributed stricter controls and vigilant monitoring to an improvement in Pakistan's global passport ranking. The country has moved up from 118th to 92nd position. He noted that Pakistan was previously among the top five nations for illegal migration but has seen progress due to updated policies and enforcement.
Data shows a decline in illegal migration to Europe. While about 8,000 Pakistanis undertook illegal journeys to Europe last year, the number has dropped to roughly 4,000 this year. Raja also shared that Dubai and Germany have granted visa-free status to official passport holders, and an e-immigration application is slated for launch by mid-January.
Earlier this year, Geo News reported that over 200 Pakistanis were deported in just one week from nations including Saudi Arabia and the United States due to visa violations, legal issues, and human trafficking cases.
