Saudi Arabia, UAE and Azerbaijan top deportation list

51,000 Pakistanis offloaded from foreign travel in 2025

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has revealed that 51,000 Pakistanis were offloaded from foreign travel in 2025, amid growing concerns over illegal migration, begging abroad and misuse of travel documents.

The disclosure was made by the FIA Director General during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, chaired by Agha Rafiullah, on Wednesday.

Deportations linked to begging

Briefing the committee, the FIA DG said that thousands of Pakistanis were deported from multiple countries for begging, a practice that continues to draw international concern and damage Pakistan’s image abroad.

According to official figures:
• Saudi Arabia deported 24,000 Pakistanis for begging
• The United Arab Emirates deported 6,000 individuals on the same charge
• Azerbaijan deported 2,500 Pakistani beggars

He added that many more were offloaded before departure to prevent embarrassment and legal consequences overseas.

Misuse of Umrah and tourist visas

The FIA DG told lawmakers that a significant number of individuals were attempting to travel to Europe under the pretext of performing Umrah.

Investigations revealed that those offloaded possessed documents linked to European travel, contradicting their claims of religious pilgrimage. These cases were stopped based on documentary evidence, he said.

Travel volume vs enforcement

Despite the enforcement actions, the FIA noted that approximately 8.5 million Pakistanis travelled abroad legally in 2025, highlighting that offloaded individuals represent a small fraction of total outbound travellers.

During the year, 226 cases related to illegal travel and document misuse were formally registered.

Illegal crossings and forged documents

The committee was also informed that:
• 450 individuals were apprehended within three months while attempting to cross into Iran illegally
• Bangladeshi nationals were caught travelling to Europe on Pakistani tourist visas
• 287 people were deported last year on forged documents
• 170 individuals were deported this year on similar charges

Officials said enhanced screening has helped reduce forged-document deportations year-on-year.

Critical analysis: A systemic challenge

Analysts say the figures expose a persistent structural problem, driven by unemployment, poverty and weak regulation of travel agents. While enforcement has improved, critics argue that reactive offloading alone cannot address root causes.

Experts stress the need for stronger pre-departure vetting, public awareness campaigns, and stricter action against trafficking networks to prevent exploitation of vulnerable individuals.

The road ahead

FIA officials assured lawmakers that screening mechanisms will continue to tighten, particularly for high-risk routes and visa categories. The agency maintains that early offloading helps protect Pakistan’s global standing and prevents harsher penalties abroad.