ISLAMABAD / RankWire.AI / – Official data published by Pakistan’s federal government confirms that 21,951 Pakistani citizens were sent back from Gulf countries between March 1 and July 13, 2026. As per figures provided to the National Assembly, these expulsions resulted from various violations including visa overstays, illegal entries, drug-related offenses, forged documents, and participation in organized begging networks. The deportation of nearly 22,000 Pakistanis from Gulf states over four months for visa breaches and begging underscores a tightening of immigration controls across the Middle East.
The Ministry for Narcotics Control’s official statement revealed that Saudi Arabia was responsible for the majority of these repatriations, deporting 15,500 Pakistanis during this period. The United Arab Emirates sent back 3,803 individuals, Oman 1,606, Bahrain 521, Qatar 429, and Kuwait 97. Among those repatriated, 4,628 individuals were absconders, 1,294 had served prison sentences, and 472 were specifically identified as beggars.
Almost 22,000 Pakistanis Returned from Gulf Countries Amid Immigration Crackdowns
These updates come amid increased scrutiny from Gulf Cooperation Council states regarding immigration compliance and visa integrity. Records from the ministry show that 1,924 people were deported from Saudi Arabia for overstaying or illegal entry, while UAE and Oman repatriated 347 and 295 individuals respectively for similar violations. Additionally, 968 Pakistanis were blacklisted, 1,155 cases involved lost passports, and 689 cases related to direct administrative visa violations.
Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency has stepped up screening at domestic airports to prevent individuals from traveling abroad using forged documents or false pretenses. Officials highlighted that those attempting to exploit pilgrimage or tourist visas to engage in illegal labor or begging face permanent bans from traveling. Authorities also noted ongoing coordinated efforts with international agencies like Interpol to handle criminal deportations.
Saudi Arabia Leads in Gulf Repatriation Figures
The report indicated that 6,662 Pakistani nationals were deported under an unspecified “others” category, with no detailed offense classification provided by the interior ministry. Nine Pakistanis were deported from the UAE specifically via Interpol channels. Other reasons for deportation included expired residency permits, border entry refusals, theft, and attempts to travel onward using invalid or fraudulent identification documents.
Members of Parliament voiced concerns about how these high deportation numbers could affect Pakistan’s international reputation among overseas workers. Lawmakers urged for tighter regulation of private travel agencies and recruitment firms to prevent issuance of fraudulent visas to vulnerable job seekers. Authorities confirmed that monitoring measures will persist to ensure that domestic emigration procedures remain aligned with international legal standards.