At least 63 Pakistani nationals have been deported from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Malaysia within 24 hours.

 

Reports quoted airport sources as saying that the Pakistani nationals were deported over visa violations, after which they landed at Karachi airport and were allowed to return to their homes following legal procedures.

 

Of the 63 deported individuals, 29 were sent back to the country from Saudi Arabia. Among them, four were involved in begging, 15 in fraudulent activities and 10 others for overstaying their visas.

 

As many as 16 Pakistani nationals were deported from Malaysia as prohibited immigrants whereas 11 were sent back from Iraq after issuance of emergency passports due to illegal entry and overstaying.

 

Additionally, four Pakistani nationals were deported from the UAE for having expired visas.

 

It merits a mention that this isn’t the first time Pakistani nationals have been deported from a foreign country over said issues, especially due to being involved in begging.

 

On October 1, 2024, the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) immigration wing apprehended eight individuals from the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi for attempting to travel on fake documents for begging abroad.

 

Five of these passengers were detained while trying to leave for Saudi Arabia under the guise of performing Umrah. The individuals, identified as Noori Anwar, Aasia Bibi, Sameena Bibi, Sakeena Bibi and Muhammad Akram, were stopped during immigration clearance.

 

Among the other three were Salman, Muhammad Noman and Muhammad Hussain, all of whom were flagged during immigration checks for a flight to Azerbaijan. Fake study visas and at least one fake German visa was recovered from the passengers.

 

On December 23, 2024, the FIA’s immigration wing also held three women passengers at the Sialkot International Airport for being involved in begging in Saudi Arabia.

 

Earlier, the Ministry of Hajj in Saudi Arabia also formally urged Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs to address the growing issue of Pakistani beggars entering the Kingdom with Umrah visas. A recent letter sent to the Ministry of Religious Affairs warned that if the situation was not resolved, it would result in disruptions for Pakistani pilgrims.

 

In response, Pakistan informed Saudi Arabia of the steps taken by the government against the “mafia” that sends beggars to the Kingdom. During a meeting with Deputy Interior Minister of Saudi Arabia Dr Nasser Bin Abdulaziz Al Dawood, Interior Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi said that the names of around 4,300 beggars were placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) as zero tolerance policy had been adopted against beggars going to the Kingdom.