Despite repeated restrictions such as no-fly lists, deportations, visa limitations, and warnings from both domestic and foreign authorities, a large number of Pakistani nationals have continued to travel abroad, or attempt to do so, with the sole purpose of begging. Recent figures highlight the scale of the problem: Saudi Arabia alone has deported approximately 56,000 Pakistani beggars, while authorities in Pakistan have prevented more than 66,000 people from leaving the country in 2025 as part of efforts to dismantle organised begging networks operating internationally.
Even in the face of strict controls, thousands of Pakistanis remain undeterred. Reports indicate that Saudi Arabia, home to Islam’s two holiest sites, has expelled tens of thousands of Pakistani citizens after they were found begging. At the same time, Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has significantly intensified checks at airports, offloading 66,154 passengers this year alone in an attempt to stop organised begging syndicates and illegal migrants from travelling abroad.
The issue has also prompted action from other Gulf nations. Just last month, the United Arab Emirates largely suspended visa issuance for Pakistani citizens, citing growing concerns that individuals were entering the country only to engage in criminal activities, including organised begging. These developments have further strained Pakistan’s relations with host countries in the region.
Notably, the latest figures were presented by a Pakistani parliamentary panel in the National Assembly several months after Islamabad placed thousands of citizens on the Exit Control List (ECL), effectively barring them from international travel. Saudi Arabia had earlier urged Pakistan to take firm action to prevent its citizens from misusing Umrah visas to reach Mecca and Medina for the purpose of begging, warning that continued abuse could have wider consequences.
For years, the misuse of foreign visas by professional beggars has been a source of concern not only for Pakistani authorities but also for legitimate travellers. Genuine pilgrims, workers, students, and tourists from Pakistan have increasingly faced stricter scrutiny, delays, and rejections because of the negative reputation created by these activities.
According to the FIA Director General for border control, Riffat Mukhtar, around 56,000 Pakistanis involved in organised begging were recently deported from Saudi Arabia. He also confirmed that the FIA had offloaded more than 66,000 passengers this year alone to prevent organised begging rings and illegal migrants from leaving Pakistan, as reported by local media.
Mukhtar warned that illegal migration and professional begging networks have caused serious damage to Pakistan’s international image. Over time, Pakistani beggars have become a visible presence in several West Asian cities, often entering countries on pilgrimage or tourist visas and then soliciting alms in public spaces. This growing trend has alarmed host governments and is now directly affecting law-abiding Pakistanis.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Religious Affairs had cautioned in 2024 that if the issue was not controlled, it could negatively impact Pakistani Umrah and Hajj pilgrims. The presence of Pakistani beggars in Saudi cities has become increasingly noticeable, with visitors openly expressing embarrassment. One Islamabad resident wrote on social media after returning from Umrah that he felt ashamed seeing fellow Pakistanis begging inside shops, on streets, and even during religious rituals.
What makes the problem more serious is that many of these individuals operate as organised, professional beggars. They obtain travel documents, secure visas, and fly abroad with the explicit intention of begging. Legal expert Rafia Zakaria, writing in Dawn, previously observed that Pakistanis have witnessed their own countrymen establishing begging operations near the holy sites in Mecca and Medina, often harassing foreign pilgrims for money. She described them as highly skilled manipulators who exploit religious guilt and compassion to extract money from visitors.
The issue is not limited to Saudi Arabia. Pakistani beggars have been reported in several other West Asian countries, including the UAE, Kuwait, Azerbaijan, and Bahrain. In 2024, Secretary of Overseas Pakistanis Zeeshan Khanzada stated that as many as 90 per cent of beggars detained in West Asian countries were from Pakistan.
While the phenomenon has severely tarnished Pakistan’s reputation abroad, it has also created serious consequences for ordinary citizens at home. The continued “export” of beggars has not only frustrated host countries but has also rebounded on law-abiding Pakistanis, who now face tighter visa checks, increased suspicion, and a growing number of refusals when seeking opportunities overseas.
