Saudi Arabia deports 24,000 Pakistanis for begging; Dubai sends back 6,000

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) of Pakistan has reported a staggering spike in airport offloadings, with over 66,000 passengers stopped from traveling abroad this year. Briefing a National Assembly Standing Committee chaired by Agha Rafiullah, FIA Director General Riffat Mukhtar Raja revealed that approximately 51,000 of these individuals were offloaded due to "insufficient or unverified documentation."

The parliamentary panel was informed that international pressure has mounted significantly, especially from Gulf nations. Saudi Arabia alone deported 24,000 Pakistani nationals this year for alleged involvement in organized begging, often carried out under the guise of Umrah pilgrimage.

Similarly, the United Arab Emirates sent back around 6,000 individuals and tightened its visa rules, citing serious concerns over criminal activities. Other nations like Azerbaijan also deported nearly 2,500 Pakistanis on similar grounds, highlighting a growing global scrutiny of Pakistani travelers.

According to DG FIA, the offloading process now relies heavily on rigorous data checks, online authentication, and the use of Artificial Intelligence to identify suspicious profiles in advance. Many of those barred from flying were found to be using agents who provided incomplete or false information regarding employment or educational courses abroad.

To maintain transparency, the agency has dismissed 180 officials for corruption and installed surveillance cameras at all major immigration counters to ensure that no passenger is cleared under political or VIP pressure.