Pakistan has moved to stem the tide of illegal migration and organized begging by imposing a ban on professional beggars and those traveling with incomplete documents from leaving the country, a measure that has drawn both domestic scrutiny and international attention. The crackdown, announced on December 22, 2025, by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, comes amid mounting concerns about the nation’s image abroad and the welfare of its citizens, as thousands have been stopped at airports or deported from foreign countries this year.
According to Radio Pakistan, Naqvi stated bluntly, “Professional beggars and people travelling with incomplete documents will not be allowed to go abroad.” He emphasized that the dignity of Pakistan and the facilitation of genuine passengers are his top priorities, warning that those who “bring a bad name to Pakistan” would face strict action. This message was delivered during a visit to Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport, where Naqvi, accompanied by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, inspected immigration counters and reviewed departure procedures.
The scale of the problem is staggering. Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) reported that more than 66,000 travelers were offloaded from airports in 2025 alone over suspected irregular travel—a figure that is nearly double the previous year’s total, as highlighted during a disclosure before the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development. The FIA’s Director General told the committee that this sharp increase reflects the growing reach of illegal migration rings that exploit vulnerable citizens, often luring them with false promises of education or employment in Europe, Africa, and the Gulf.
But the issue doesn’t end at Pakistan’s borders. Tens of thousands of Pakistani nationals have been deported from Gulf states and other countries this year, many for offenses related to organized begging. Arab News and The Economic Times both reported that Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Azerbaijan have deported thousands of Pakistanis on charges connected to begging, particularly during religious periods like Ramadan and the Hajj and Umrah seasons. Those caught are typically detained, fined, and deported, sometimes with entry bans imposed on repeat offenders. Gulf authorities have also shared deportation data with Islamabad, prompting further domestic enforcement measures.
The problem of organized begging is not new, but its scale and visibility have increased. Several cases have emerged of Pakistani citizens misusing Umrah visas to beg for money in Saudi Arabia, a practice that has drawn sharp rebuke from Gulf governments. Pakistani nationals applying for visit, Umrah, or short-term visas now face stricter scrutiny, with immigration officials flagging travelers who lack a clear purpose, sufficient funds, or have suspicious travel histories. Many are offloaded at departure airports or refused entry on arrival, sometimes with little explanation, leading to frustration among genuine travelers.
These developments have had diplomatic consequences. The UAE, for instance, has imposed visa restrictions affecting law-abiding Pakistani citizens, a move directly linked to the surge in deportations and the perception of Pakistan as a source of organized begging and irregular migration. Gulf governments have formally raised the matter with Islamabad, describing it as both a reputational and security concern. The deportation of 56,000 Pakistani nationals involved in organized begging from Saudi Arabia and the UAE in 2025 alone underscores the magnitude of the challenge.
Domestically, the government has responded with a series of high-level meetings and new policy measures. Earlier in December, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formed a committee, led by the federal minister for overseas Pakistanis, to streamline immigration procedures and investigate cases of passengers being offloaded arbitrarily. During a high-level meeting on December 20, 2025, officials reviewed enforcement measures aimed at curbing human smuggling and illegal immigration. They highlighted a 47% fall in illegal migration to Europe from Pakistan, crediting intensified screening at departure points for the decline.
Prime Minister Sharif has called for a balanced approach, stating, “In taking action against those travelling illegally or holding suspicious travel documents, special care must be taken to ensure that passengers with valid documents are not affected.” This sentiment echoes widespread concerns about the fairness and transparency of the crackdown. As reported by Business Recorder, the alarming rise in offloading cases has raised questions about governance, regulatory oversight, and the rights of ordinary citizens. Genuine travelers—students, workers, and tourists—often face humiliation, financial loss, and emotional distress when wrongly offloaded, eroding public trust in state institutions.
The FIA’s explanation that most offloaded passengers lacked sufficient or verifiable documentation points to deeper systemic weaknesses. Many outbound travelers were unable to provide complete information regarding their universities, study programs, or employment arrangements, raising legitimate concerns for immigration authorities. Still, enforcement alone cannot address the problem. The Standing Committee has called for the establishment of clear, publicly available standard operating procedures (SOPs) and an airport-visible complaints and redressal mechanism. Such measures would allow wrongly offloaded passengers to seek immediate clarification and relief, while ensuring uniform application of rules and reducing the potential for discretionary abuse.
Pakistan’s crackdown on fraudulent migration and organized begging rings is seen by many officials as a necessary step to protect the country’s international standing and prevent the exploitation of its citizens. Yet, as Business Recorder editorialized, “Enforcement must be balanced with transparency and accountability. Without accessible remedial channels and clear procedures, well-intentioned measures risk punishing innocent citizens alongside offenders.” The challenge for policymakers is to create a fair, rule-based system that safeguards both national interests and individual rights, restoring public confidence in Pakistan’s migration management framework.
Meanwhile, the FIA has not only increased airport offloading but also launched investigations into travel agents and human smugglers, canceling the passports of habitual offenders. Officials say that a disproportionate number of foreign beggars detained in the Gulf in recent years were Pakistani nationals, leading to targeted action rather than broad-based crackdowns on all foreign travelers. This targeted enforcement, while addressing immediate concerns, has also contributed to the perception among some Pakistanis that the system is arbitrary and prone to errors.
The government’s efforts have already produced measurable results, with a significant reduction in illegal migration to Europe and a heightened awareness of the risks associated with fraudulent travel. However, the real test will be whether these measures can be sustained and improved in a way that protects both the country’s reputation and the rights of its citizens. As the debate continues, one thing is clear: Pakistan’s approach to migration and border control is under intense scrutiny, both at home and abroad.
For now, the ban on professional beggars and those with incomplete documents is a sign that Pakistan is taking its international obligations seriously. Whether these efforts will ultimately restore trust and credibility—among citizens, travelers, and foreign partners—remains to be seen, but the stakes could hardly be higher for a nation so deeply connected to its diaspora and its global reputation.
