950 Pakistanis Deported in One Year Over Alleged Begging Abroad
KARACHI: As many as 950 Pakistani nationals were deported from different countries over the past year on allegations of begging abroad, while 49 passengers suspected of travelling overseas for the same purpose were offloaded at Karachi Airport.
According to official figures, 897 Pakistanis were deported from Saudi Arabia between 2025 and 2026, the highest number among the countries concerned. In addition, 22 were deported from the United Arab Emirates, 11 each from Iraq and Oman, five from Qatar, and one each from Bahrain and Malaysia.
The data further showed that 21 passengers travelling to Saudi Arabia were offloaded at Karachi Airport on suspicion of going abroad to beg.
Seven passengers travelling to Bahrain were also offloaded, while five each bound for the United Arab Emirates and Qatar were stopped from travelling.
Similarly, four passengers travelling to Oman, three travelling to Malaysia, and one passenger each travelling to Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Indonesia and Türkiye were offloaded.
Sources said all the passengers who were offloaded were transferred to the Anti-Human Trafficking Circle for further investigation and legal proceedings.
Authorities have been taking measures to prevent individuals from travelling abroad for the purpose of begging and to curb organised networks allegedly facilitating such activities.
