Thousands of Pakistani beggars deported from multiple countries, NA body told

Thousands of Pakistani beggars deported from multiple countries, NA body told

Thousands of Pakistanis have been deported from various countries for begging. File photo

December, 17 2025

ISLAMABAD (Web Desk): Thousands of Pakistanis have been deported from various countries for begging, the National Assembly committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Rights was told.

During a meeting chaired by Agha Rafiullah, FIA Director General Riffat Mukhtar Raja briefed the committee on enforcement measures and recent trends. He revealed that 51,000 Pakistanis were deported this year alone for begging and related issues.

Saudi Arabia deported the highest number, sending 24,000 Pakistanis back, followed by the UAE with 6,000, and Azerbaijan with around 2,500 individuals. Many were caught trying to travel to Europe under the pretext of Umrah, but supporting documents showed plans to stay abroad illegally.

The committee was also informed about travel to Southeast Asia. 24,000 Pakistanis went to Cambodia, of whom 12,000 have not yet returned, and 4,000 visited Myanmar on tourist visas, with 2,500 failing to come back.

FIA DG Riffat Mukhtar Raja noted that stricter measures improved Pakistan’s passport ranking from 118 to 92, removing the country from the top five for illegal migration. Illegal migration to Europe declined from 8,000 last year to 4,000 this year. He added that Dubai and Germany had made official passports visa-free and that an e-immigration application would launch by mid-January.