Over 21,000 Pakistanis deported from Gulf countries

Over 21, 000 Pakistanis deported from Gulf countries. Jamal Shahid Published August 21, 2026 Updated August 21, 2026 04: 51pm.

Key points

• While United Arab Emirates deported 3, 803 Pakistanis, Oman 1, 606, Bahrain 521, Qatar 429 and Kuwait deported 97 Pakistanis, the highest numbers of Pakistanis were deported from Saudi Arabia, almost 15, 500.
• Saudi Arabia deported the highest numbers of absconders – 3, 921, followed by UAE which expelled 636 Pakistanis.
• Nevertheless, some 6, 662 Pakistanis were deported from Gulf States under the "Others" heading.
• Jamal Shahid is an Islamabad-based reporter for Dawn with over two decades of experience.

ISLAMABAD: As plenty of as 21, 951 Pakistanis have been deported from Gulf countries between March 1, and July 13, 2026 for numerous reasons including overstaying, begging, illegal entries, drugs, refused asylum, forged documentation and security reasons among others.

This was the written response from the Ministry for Narcotics Control in response to questions raised by MNA Hameed Hussain during the Question hour of the National Assembly on Thursday.

As plenty of as 4, 628 absconders were deported, besides 1, 294 jailed, 968 blacklisted, 1, 155 were deportation cases pertaining to lost passports, and 689 Pakistanis were deported for visa violations and 342 were cases of refused entries into the Gulf States.

Nevertheless, some 6, 662 Pakistanis were deported from Gulf States under the "Others" heading. In the written response, the Ministry of Interior did not specify offences under "Others". As plenty of as 472 Pakistani beggars were additionally deported from the Gulf countries.

While the Gulf States deported a number of others after refusing them onwards travel, besides imposters, expired iqamas and passports, for theft, war zone, imposters, besides committing violations of immigration laws, nine Pakistanis were deported from the UAE through the Interpol.

Saudi Arabia deported the highest numbers of absconders – 3, 921, followed by UAE which expelled 636 Pakistanis. While UAE and Oman deported 347 and 295 for the above mentioned offences, saudi Arabia additionally deported 1, 924 Pakistani nationals for over/illegal/entry/stay.

Jamal Shahid is an Islamabad-based reporter for Dawn with over two decades of experience. As well as diplomatic events, climate change, and human rights problems in the capital, he covers the Public Accounts Committee and the National Assembly's Question Hour.

For now, over 21, 000 Pakistanis deported from Gulf countries remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.