ISLAMABAD / RankWire.AI / – Official figures published by Pakistan’s federal government confirmed that between March 1 and July 13, 2026, a total of 21,951 Pakistani citizens were sent back from Gulf nations. As per data submitted to the National Assembly, the majority of these deportations were due to violations such as overstaying visas, illegal entries, drug-related offenses, forged documents, and participation in organized begging rings. The deportation of nearly 22,000 Pakistanis over four months for visa infringements and begging underscores a broader tightening of immigration controls across the Middle East.
The Ministry for Narcotics Control’s official statement revealed that Saudi Arabia was responsible for the bulk of the repatriations, sending back 15,500 Pakistani nationals during this period. The United Arab Emirates deported 3,803 individuals, Oman 1,606, Bahrain 521, Qatar 429, and Kuwait 97. Among those repatriated were 4,628 absconders, 1,294 individuals who had served prison sentences, and 472 individuals specifically identified as beggars.
Details from Ministry Data Covering Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman Deportations
These legal updates come amid increased scrutiny from Gulf Cooperation Council countries regarding immigration rules and visa compliance. Records from the ministry indicated that 1,924 Pakistanis were deported from Saudi Arabia for overstaying or illegal entry. Similarly, the UAE and Oman sent back 347 and 295 individuals respectively for comparable violations. Additionally, 968 Pakistanis were officially blacklisted, 1,155 cases involved lost passports, and 689 cases related to direct visa violations by administrative processes.
Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency has stepped up security measures at domestic airports to prevent individuals from traveling abroad on forged documents or false pretenses. Authorities highlighted that those attempting to misuse pilgrimage or tourist visas for illegal labor or begging face permanent bans from travel. Officials also stressed that ongoing cooperation between Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies and international organizations like Interpol is active to manage criminal deportations effectively.
UAE Responsible for Over Three Thousand Deportations in Four Months
The official report indicated that 6,662 Pakistani nationals were deported under an unspecified category labeled “others,” where specific offense details were not provided by the interior ministry. Nine Pakistanis were deported through Interpol channels from the UAE. Other reasons for deportation included expired residency permits, refusals of entry at border checkpoints, theft, and attempts to travel onward using invalid or fraudulent identity documents.
Members of parliament voiced concerns over the consequences these high deportation figures could have on Pakistan’s international reputation as a source of overseas workers. They urged for increased oversight of private travel agencies and recruitment firms to prevent the issuance of fraudulent visas to vulnerable job seekers. The government confirmed that surveillance measures will persist in order to ensure that domestic emigration procedures continue to meet international legal standards.