Islamabad (TDI): In a decisive move aimed at curbing the misuse of travel documents and improving the country’s image abroad, Pakistan has blocked several thousand passports and imposed long-term travel bans on citizens found begging in Gulf countries.
The action comes as part of a broader initiative targeting what authorities describe as an organized “beggar mafia” exploiting Umrah and other visit visas to solicit money in Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern states.
The crackdown was launched last August after repeated complaints from Riyadh and other partners about visa misuse.
Speaking at the Pakistan Governance Forum 2026 in Islamabad, Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain said the passport blocks are paired with travel restrictions ranging from five to ten years for deported offenders.
“We are not sending the beggars abroad,” he said, stressing that offenders enter host countries on legitimate visas and subsequently engage in begging or criminal activity.
Hussain asserted that the enforcement measures have already led to a sharp decline in such cases, underlining that there is “no visa for begging.”
He noted that authorities are working closely with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to identify repeat offenders and ensure compliance with travel and immigration laws.
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The crackdown also coincides with Islamabad’s effort to enhance the quality and reputation of Pakistan’s overseas workforce.
The minister highlighted ongoing cooperation with labor ministries in Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, focusing on skills training and awareness of local norms for Pakistani workers abroad.
This initiative, he said, is intended to ensure that labor exports contribute positively to both host countries and Pakistan’s economy.
Remittances from migrant workers have reached record highs in recent months, a critical pillar of Pakistan’s foreign exchange earnings and a key factor in easing balance-of-payments pressures.
Hussain argued that improving job readiness and work ethics among Pakistan’s expatriate workforce will help sustain and grow these inflows.
In a related push to modernize processes and reduce corruption, the government is accelerating digitization of overseas employment procedures to minimize human interaction and bureaucratic obstacles.
“Problems and issues arise where humans interact with humans,” he said, underscoring the administration’s commitment to technological solutions in public service delivery.
