ISLAMABAD (special crosspondent) – A total of 21,951 Pakistani nationals were deported from various Gulf countries between March 1 and July 13, 2026, due to a range of legal and administrative violations. According to data provided by the Ministry of Narcotics Control during a session of the National Assembly, the causes for these repatriations included overstaying visas, engaging in begging, illegal entry, drug-related offenses, rejected asylum applications, the use of forged documentation, and various security-related concerns.

Breakdown of Deportation Statistics

The detailed response, provided in reply to a query from MNA Hameed Hussain, highlighted that 4,628 individuals were deported as absconders. Furthermore, 1,294 citizens were returned after serving prison sentences or being held in detention, while 968 individuals were blacklisted by host authorities. The report also indicated that 1,155 cases were processed due to lost travel documents, 689 for direct visa violations, and 342 for being denied entry into their respective destination countries.

Country-Specific Deportation Data

Saudi Arabia recorded the highest volume of deportations, accounting for approximately 15,500 Pakistani citizens during the four-month timeframe. Other nations reporting significant repatriation figures included the United Arab Emirates (3,803), Oman (1,606), Bahrain (521), Qatar (429), and Kuwait (97). The ministry noted that while 6,662 cases were categorized under “Others,” specific details regarding these infractions remained unspecified in the official record.

Categories of Offenses

The data further specified that 472 Pakistani beggars were deported from the Gulf region. In a separate development regarding bilateral cooperation, such as the ongoing efforts seen in diplomatic security engagements, officials noted that nine Pakistanis were returned from the UAE specifically via Interpol intervention. Additional grounds for deportation included theft, issues stemming from regional conflict zones, impersonation, expired residency permits (iqamas), and systemic violations of immigration regulations.

Regional Comparison of Violations

Saudi Arabia remained the primary host country for the deportation of absconders, accounting for 3,921 such cases, followed by the UAE with 636 incidents. Additionally, for violations regarding illegal entry or visa overstays, Saudi Arabia deported 1,924 individuals, whereas the UAE and Oman reported 347 and 295 such deportations, respectively. As Pakistan continues to seek international institutional cooperation, these statistics underscore the ongoing complexities surrounding labor migration and legal compliance for citizens working abroad.