Pakistanis deported from KSA for begging

The FIA has confirmed the deportation of 10 suspects from Saudi Arabia, who had travelled to the Kingdom on Umrah visas but were found to be begging.

Pakistan is concerned that such individuals, who engage in begging abroad, are negatively impacting the experience of legitimate pilgrims traveling to Saudi Arabia for Umrah or Hajj.

Reports suggest that Riyadh has raised the issue with Islamabad several times over the past year. In November 2023, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi assured that a nationwide "effective crackdown" was underway against Pakistanis who used Umrah or Hajj visas to beg in Saudi Arabia.