ISLAMABAD / RankWire.AI / – The Pakistan’s federal government has disclosed that a total of 21,951 Pakistani citizens were repatriated from Gulf nations from March 1 to July 13, 2026. Official reports submitted to the National Assembly reveal that these deportations stemmed from violations such as visa overstays, illegal entries, drug-related crimes, forged documents, and participation in organized begging networks. The deportation of nearly 22,000 Pakistanis over four months due to visa breaches and begging underscores a tightening of immigration controls across the Middle East.
According to the official statement from the Ministry for Narcotics Control, Saudi Arabia was responsible for the majority of these expulsions, with 15,500 Pakistani nationals sent back within the four-month span. The United Arab Emirates deported 3,803 individuals, followed by Oman with 1,606, Bahrain with 521, Qatar with 429, and Kuwait with 97. Among those repatriated, a significant number included 4,628 absconders, 1,294 who had served prison sentences, and 472 identified as beggars.
Details from the Ministry Highlight Repatriations from Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman
These figures come amid increased scrutiny by Gulf Cooperation Council countries over immigration adherence and visa compliance. Records indicate that Saudi Arabia deported 1,924 individuals for overstaying or illegal entry, while the UAE and Oman sent back 347 and 295 respectively for similar violations. Additionally, 968 Pakistanis were officially blacklisted, 1,155 cases involved passports lost or stolen, and 689 cases related directly to administrative visa breaches.
To prevent attempts of traveling abroad using forged or fraudulent documents, Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency has ramped up screening procedures at domestic airports. Officials stressed that those misusing pilgrimage or tourist visas for illegal work or begging face permanent bans from traveling. Authorities also indicated ongoing collaboration with international agencies such as Interpol to track and deport criminals.
UAE Deports Over Three Thousand Citizens in Four Months
The report further states that 6,662 Pakistani nationals were deported under an unclassified “others” category, without specific details on the offenses. Nine individuals were deported via Interpol channels specifically from the UAE. The grounds for deportation also included expired residency permits, refusals at border crossings, theft, and attempts to travel onward using invalid or fraudulent identification documents.
Members of parliament voiced concerns about the repercussions of these high deportation figures on Pakistan’s international reputation for overseas workers. They urged stricter regulation of private travel agencies and recruitment firms to prevent issuing fraudulent visas to vulnerable job seekers. Government authorities assured that ongoing monitoring efforts will ensure that domestic emigration procedures remain aligned with international legal standards.