ISLAMABAD, June 3, 2025: The Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development has took up the issue on Pakistani nationals being deported from Gulf and other countries due to beggary and fake documents.
READ MORE: Passport Tracking Made Simple: Step-by-Step Instructions
Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, chaired the meeting, while DG Passport appeared to respond to some of the questions raised during the meeting. Initially, the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development informed the committee that around 7,873 Pakistanis have been deported during 2019-2025 period, on various charges, including beggary. However, overall the number of deported Pakistanis is much higher, with nearly 58,000 Pakistanis being deported in the last three years. A major chunk of deported overseas Pakistanis has been kicked out on account of beggary from Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar.
The ministry officials shared that out of these, 1,064 Pakistanis were deported for beggary. Out of the deported Pakistani nationals, 1,460 had gone abroad through 691 Overseas Employment Promoters (OEPs).
DG Passport, in his briefing to the senate committee, said that 125,000 Pakistanis have also sought asylum in European countries in the last year alone. He also shared that 10,000 Pakistani nationals applied for asylum in the United States in 2024.
The senate committee expressed concern over these growing trends, especially beggary and crimes, by Pakistani nationals abroad. The members shared that such actions by overseas Pakistanis is bringing disgrace to the nation’s image.
Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro asked about the steps taken by the ministry to prevent such incidents, while Senator Shahadat Awan questioned the legality of cancelling passports of individuals who commit crimes abroad.
The ministry informed the committee that it has initiated cancellation of passports of all deportees to discourage the growing trend of beggary. The committee also recommended that the ministry should initiate criminal proceedings against individuals involved in sending deportees abroad and provide details of OEPs who sent the maximum number of Pakistanis abroad who have been found involved in beggary and other criminal activities.
READ MORE: How to Track Passport Pakistan – Step-by-Step Guide for 2025
The committee was also briefed about the economic diplomacy to increase migration of skilled labor abroad. The Managing Director of the Overseas Employment Corporation (OEC) informed the committee that around 10.3 million Pakistani skilled workers are employed in various countries, and OEC has MoUs with 18 countries.
