Umrah Visa Abuse: Saudi Arabia Expels 24,000 Pakistani Beggars

• Saudi Arabia expelled 24,000 Pakistani citizens this year for organized begging, primarily using Umrah visas.
• The UAE tightened visa rules and deported 6,000 Pakistanis, while Azerbaijan sent back 2,500 for similar reasons.
• Pakistan's FIA prevented 66,000 passengers from traveling in 2025 to dismantle organized begging rings and prevent illegal migration.
• Pakistani officials, including FIA DG Riffat Mukhtar, state this organized begging severely damages the country's international reputation.
• Experts like Rafia Zakaria note begging has become an 'organized industry' in Pakistan, now spreading abroad.

Why It Matters: Pakistan faces severe reputational damage as thousands are expelled globally for organized begging on Umrah visas.