Thousands of Pakistani Beggars Sent Back by Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has deported more than 5,000 Pakistani beggars over the past 16 months. These individuals had traveled to Saudi Arabia from different provinces of Pakistan and got involved in begging there.
According to official data, a total of 5,033 Pakistani beggars were sent back during this period.
More Arrests for Begging in Saudi Arabia
In addition to those deported, 369 people from five different countries have been arrested in Saudi Arabia for being involved in begging. Their nationalities were not detailed, but they are part of an ongoing crackdown.
Report Presented in Pakistan’s National Assembly
This information was shared by Pakistan’s Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in response to a written question asked by PPP (Pakistan People’s Party) Member of Parliament Sehar Kamran. The report was published by Dawn on Thursday, May 15.
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Data Only from January 2024 Presented
While the PPP lawmaker had asked for data from the past three years, the minister only provided figures starting from January 2024.
Between January 2024 and May 2025, a total of 5,402 Pakistanis were deported from the following six countries:
- Saudi Arabia
- Iraq
- Malaysia
- Oman
- Qatar
- United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Most Deportees Came from Sindh Province
Among the 5,402 deported individuals, the majority were from Sindh province. Here is the provincial breakdown of the 2,795 deported beggars:
- Sindh – 2,795
- Punjab – 1,437
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) – 1,002
- Balochistan – 125
- Azad Kashmir – 33
- Islamabad – 10
Other Countries Also Deported Pakistanis
After Saudi Arabia, Iraq deported the second-highest number of Pakistanis, totaling 247. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has also taken a tough stance, introducing strict visa restrictions on Pakistani citizens. Under these rules, 58 people were deported from the UAE.
Final Thoughts
Concerns have been expressed on a national and international level about the increasing number of Pakistani citizens begging overseas. Deportations and limits on visas are just two of the strong measures being taken by Saudi Arabia and other nations to address this problem. In the meantime, Pakistani politicians are calling for greater accountability as well as answers to the underlying issues that are driving people to take such drastic methods.
Source: Kaler Kantho
