ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is experiencing a notable decrease in the number of its citizens deported from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations for engaging in begging. Officials attribute this downward trend to recent intensified government crackdowns on the illegal practice.
In recent years, numerous Pakistani nationals have faced deportation from GCC countries after being caught begging. This trend of exploiting visas for begging has sparked concerns within Pakistan, as the practice risks jeopardizing the visa prospects of legitimate travelers, particularly religious pilgrims. Reports indicate that Saudi Arabia has repeatedly addressed this issue with Islamabad during various diplomatic discussions.
Nouman Siddiqui, Additional Director-General for Immigration at the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), informed Arab News that the government is treating the abuse of visas for overseas begging with the utmost seriousness. Data shows that in 2024, approximately 4,800 Pakistanis were deported from Saudi Arabia and other GCC states for involvement in begging. While over 1,100 were deported for the same offense in 2025, the numbers continue to fall.
“The trend is declining because we are making concerted efforts and taking strict action against this menace,” Siddiqui stated. He noted that in the current year, deportations for these charges have dropped to just 802 individuals.
The FIA official further reported that while 507 Pakistani nationals were offloaded from domestic airports for begging in 2024—a figure that rose to 597 in 2025—that number saw a sharp decline to only 27 during the first half of 2027.
Regarding preventative measures, Siddiqui explained that authorities have initiated inquiries into suspects, leading to the registration of First Information Reports (FIRs). In 2024, 34 FIRs were filed against individuals offloaded for begging, compared to 38 in 2025.
Additionally, 50 FIRs were registered against Pakistani nationals deported from the GCC in 2024, whereas the number rose to 239 in 2025. Siddiqui emphasized that these stringent enforcement measures are directly contributing to the reduction of this illegal activity.
Pakistanis constitute the second-largest expatriate community in Saudi Arabia, with more than 2.5 million residents. This demographic serves as a primary source of remittances for Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, has directed the FIA to dismantle the networks facilitating illegal overseas begging, stating that the practice severely damages Pakistan’s international reputation.
