Nearly 22,000 Pakistanis Deported from Gulf Countries in Six Months, National Assembly Told
ISLAMABAD: Nearly 22,000 Pakistani citizens were deported from Gulf countries over a six-month period, according to official figures presented in the National Assembly.
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry told the National Assembly that a total of 21,951 Pakistani nationals were deported from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman between March and July 2026.
The deportees included individuals accused of illegal residence, violations of visa and residency regulations, drug-related offences, absconding and other violations of local laws.
Pakistani citizens detained in the respective countries were repatriated after Pakistani missions issued them emergency travel documents. The figures did not include individuals who returned to Pakistan voluntarily.
The National Assembly was informed that the reasons for deportation varied from case to case and included violations of immigration, visa, residency and other local regulations.
Meanwhile, the government has activated special courts in Islamabad and all 36 districts of Punjab to protect the properties of overseas Pakistanis. The courts have been established to facilitate the speedy resolution of disputes involving properties owned by Pakistanis living abroad.
The government has also advised Pakistanis travelling to Gulf countries to carefully verify their visas, residency permits and other travel documents before departure and strictly comply with the laws of host countries to avoid deportation and other legal complications.
