56,000 Pakistanis Deported for Begging: Islamabad's Global Image Tarnished

• Saudi Arabia deported 56,000 Pakistanis over begging allegations, while the UAE imposed visa restrictions due to criminal activities.
• Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) offloaded 66,154 passengers in 2025 to curb organized begging and illegal migration networks.
• FIA Director General Riffat Mukhtar highlighted the severe reputational damage caused by these global networks.
• Saudi authorities warned Islamabad in 2024 about the misuse of Umrah visas for begging in Mecca and Medina.
• Experts like Rafia Zakaria and officials like Zeeshan Khanzada confirm organized begging is a systemic issue, with 90% of West Asian beggars being Pakistani.

Why It Matters: Organized begging by Pakistanis abroad, leading to 56,000 deportations, severely damages Pakistan's international reputation.