Saudi authorities have deported more than 24,000 Pakistani citizens this year as part of a strict crackdown on organized begging networks exploiting religious visas, officials confirmed on Wednesday. The move follows repeated warnings to Islamabad and reflects growing tensions over the misuse of Hajj and Umrah permits near the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director General Riffat Mukhtar disclosed the numbers during a National Assembly briefing, noting that many visitors on short-term visas quickly turned to aggressive solicitation of alms. These deportations contribute to an estimated total of 56,000 expelled in recent years, with similar actions in the UAE, which deported around 6,000 Pakistanis, and Azerbaijan, which sent back 2,500. Organized networks reportedly treat begging as a highly profitable enterprise.

Saudi authorities had warned Pakistan as early as 2024 that continued incidents of begging could jeopardize future pilgrimage quotas for legitimate devotees. Reports detail beggars approaching worshippers in sacred areas and shoppers in luxury stores, prompting stricter visa controls, including significant reductions from the UAE due to crimes linked to Pakistani travelers.

Pakistan’s FIA blocked 66,154 high-risk passengers from boarding international flights in 2025 and blacklisted thousands more through no-fly registries. Officials pointed to trafficking rings that lure vulnerable individuals with false promises, creating a domestic begging industry generating billions of rupees and involving millions of participants. The ongoing enforcement measures could have broader implications for bilateral relations, as Gulf remittances and pilgrimages remain vital for countless Pakistani families, highlighting the need for addressing underlying issues of poverty and organized crime.