Middle East Clampdown: 50,000 Pakistanis Offloaded, 24,000 Deported for Begging

Pakistan's Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Riffat Mukhtar Raja, briefed a parliamentary panel that over 50,000 passengers were offloaded at airports this year due to immigration checks. The majority, 51,000, lacked sufficient or unverified documentation. Additionally, Saudi Arabia deported 24,000 Pakistanis accused of begging, while Dubai sent back around 6,000 individuals. The FIA chief attributed the offloading to document verification, data checks, and online authentication. Many passengers, he said, used incomplete or incorrect information when traveling through agents. He also assured lawmakers that no passengers were cleared under political influence or VIP pressure. The FIA has taken steps to combat corruption, dismissing 180 officials involved in corruption. The immigration system is now using artificial intelligence to identify suspicious cases in advance. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi earlier stated that passengers with complete travel documents would not be stopped from traveling. However, those with incomplete or bogus documents would not be allowed to travel. The FIA DG also informed the panel that 287 people were deported last year and 170 this year for using fake documents. Furthermore, 450 people were arrested while attempting to cross into Iran illegally over the past three months. The clampdown on Pakistanis traveling abroad comes as the UAE suspended regular visa issuance due to concerns over applicants getting involved in criminal activities. Saudi Arabia also warned Pakistan about the growing number of Pakistani nationals entering the Kingdom under the guise of religious pilgrimage and then engaging in begging. The developments have significant implications for Pakistanis planning to travel abroad. With investment worth $1 trillion expected to flow into Saudi Arabia under Saudi Vision 2030, creating multiple employment opportunities, the situation is being closely monitored by the government.