Saudi Arabia has carried out large-scale deportations of Pakistani nationals over the past year as part of an intensified campaign against visa violations, unauthorised work and organised begging, a matter acknowledged by officials in both countries.
Pakistani authorities have confirmed that tens of thousands of citizens were sent back from Saudi Arabia during this period, with official figures ranging up to around 56,000 depending on reporting timeframe, many of whom were found soliciting alms in public spaces after entering the Kingdom on Umrah, visit or other short-term visas. Saudi officials have repeatedly clarified that begging constitutes a criminal offence under Saudi law, particularly when it involves overstaying, breaching visa conditions, or operating within coordinated networks.
Saudi Arabia’s security agencies have stated that enforcement actions target conduct rather than nationality, noting that a significant number of those detained for begging had initially arrived legally but later engaged in activities prohibited under residency and public-order regulations. Surveillance and enforcement have been stepped up in and around Makkah and Madinah, especially during peak pilgrimage periods when such activity tends to rise.
Within Pakistan, the scale of deportations has triggered official concern over diplomatic fallout and reputational damage. The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis has publicly acknowledged the seriousness of the issue, while the Federal Investigation Agency has stopped more than 66,000 travellers from departing the country over the past year for a range of red-flag indicators, including suspected overseas begging, illegal employment and visa misuse
In response, the Pakistani government has announced a range of corrective measures, including enhanced screening of outbound passengers, blacklisting repeat deportees involved in begging, and intensified action against intermediaries who facilitate travel for unlawful purposes. Officials have warned that abuse of religious travel routes undermines legitimate pilgrims and weakens Pakistan’s credibility abroad.
Saudi Arabia is not the only country to act. The United Arab Emirates has also deported thousands of Pakistani nationals, particularly from Dubai, where begging is treated as a serious public-order offence. Additional deportations, though on a smaller scale, have been reported from Azerbaijan, Iraq, Oman, Qatar and Malaysia, primarily involving overstays or violations of entry conditions.
The developments have revived domestic debate in Pakistan about the scale of begging as an informal economy. Senior political figures have publicly claimed that the practice generates approximately Rs 42 billion within the country and involves tens of millions of people. While these estimates cannot be independently substantiated through audited data, officials broadly agree that organised begging poses a significant social and international credibility challenge, particularly when it crosses borders.
Both Saudi and Pakistani authorities have stressed that economic hardship cannot excuse breaches of immigration law or misuse of religious travel, and that sustained enforcement is necessary to protect public order, safeguard genuine pilgrims and maintain bilateral relations.
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