Pakistan is witnessing a decline in the number of its nationals deported from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries for begging this year, an official said recently, attributing the drop to the government’s sweeping crackdown against the practice.
Several Pakistanis have been deported from Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries in recent years after they were found begging. The trend of abusing visas to beg overseas has raised concerns in Pakistan that the illegal practice could affect genuine visa-seekers, particularly religious pilgrims, traveling to Saudi Arabia and other countries. According to widespread media reports, Saudi Arabia has raised the issue with Islamabad at various forums over the years.
Nouman Siddiqui, additional director-general for immigration at the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), told Arab News on Sunday that Islamabad had taken the abuse of visas for overseas begging “very seriously.” He said in 2024, around 4,800 Pakistanis were deported by Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries after they were found to be involved in begging. He said in 2025, more than 1,100 Pakistanis were deported for the same crime.
“Now, the trend is declining because we are making efforts, taking strict actions against this menace,” Siddiqui told Arab News on Sunday. “In this year, only 802 Pakistanis have been deported on the charges.”
The FIA official said a total of 507 Pakistani nationals were offloaded from various airports across the country for begging in 2024, adding that the number increased to 597 in 2025.
However, Siddiqui said the number declined to 27 during the first six months of 2027.
When asked what measures the government is taking to curb begging by Pakistani nationals overseas, Siddiqui said authorities had launched inquiries against suspects that resulted in the registration of First Information Reports (FIRs).
“In 2024, 34 FIRs were registered on offloaded beggars. In 2025, 38 FIRs were registered,” he said.
Siddiqui said 50 FIRs were registered against Pakistani nationals deported from Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries in 2024, while in 2025 the number of FIRs registered against deported nationals increased to 239.
“So, this strict action resulted into the decline of the menace of this beggary,” he said.
Pakistanis are the second-largest expatriate community in the Kingdom, with over 2.5 million living and working in Saudi Arabia. Pakistanis in the Kingdom are the top source of remittances for the South Asian country.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has tasked the FIA to crack down on the network of beggars traveling overseas illegally, saying it is damaging Pakistan’s image abroad.