Pakistan Bars Beggars From Foreign Travel Amid Gulf Pressure And Deportations

Pakistan has moved to stop professional beggars and travellers with incomplete documents from leaving the country, after thousands of Pakistanis were deported from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Azerbaijan for begging, visa misuse and irregular travel, prompting diplomatic pressure from Gulf governments worried about security risks and reputational damage.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has directed authorities to block such travellers at airports and land borders, warning that those involved in organised begging or document fraud will face strict penalties at home as well as abroad, as Pakistan tries to limit further deportations and reduce embarrassment for Pakistani nationals overseas.

Pakistan bars beggars foreign travel amid Gulf pressure

Radio Pakistan reported that Naqvi had warned those who "bring a bad name to Pakistan" will face strict action. "The interior minister said the dignity of Pakistan and facilitation of passengers are his top priorities." Officials said the instructions apply to people travelling for work, religious visits, tourism and short stays, especially to Gulf countries.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) stated that more than 66,000 outbound passengers were stopped during this year on suspicion of irregular travel plans, incomplete documentation or possible human smuggling, while tens of thousands of Pakistanis were flown back from Gulf states and other destinations in broad crackdowns on illegal migration and begging networks.

Pakistan bars beggars foreign travel as deportations rise

Data shared with Islamabad shows that Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Azerbaijan deported thousands of Pakistani nationals in 2025 over begging charges. Police forces in Saudi Arabia and UAE ran special anti-begging drives during Ramadan and the Hajj and Umrah periods, when begging incidents surge near religious sites, shopping areas and residential districts.

According to Gulf officials, many of those arrested for begging were not lone individuals but part of organised groups managed by handlers, who arrange visas, transport and locations. Repeat offenders were frequently blacklisted, meaning bans on re-entering Saudi Arabia or UAE, and authorities passed deportation records to Pakistani agencies to help identify ringleaders inside Pakistan.

Pakistan bars beggars foreign travel with stricter checks

Immigration teams in Gulf airports now apply tighter checks to Pakistani visitors, especially those seeking visit, Umrah or other short-stay visas. Officials closely examine the travel purpose, available funds and travel history, and many Pakistanis without clear plans or with repeated short trips are either offloaded at Pakistani departure points or refused entry on arrival.

Gulf governments have raised the issue directly with Islamabad, framing it as both a reputational and security challenge. In response, Pakistan’s FIA has expanded airport offloading, begun probing travel agents and suspected human smugglers, and, in some instances, cancelled passports of habitual offenders, while also noting that over 66,000 travellers were intercepted this year alone for possible irregular travel.

Officials in Gulf countries have said that a disproportionate share of foreign beggars detained in recent years were Pakistani nationals, which has led to specific focus on Pakistan rather than a broad regional policy, and Pakistan’s new restrictions on beggars and poorly documented travellers aim to reduce such cases and limit further strain on relations with key Gulf partners.