In a troubling development for Pakistan, over 5,000 Pakistani nationals, primarily beggars, have been deported from various Muslim countries, including Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Iraq. This news emerged from a statement made by Pakistan’s Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi in the country’s parliament, where he revealed that a total of 5,402 beggars have been sent back since January 2024. A significant portion of these deportations, totaling 5,033 individuals, came from Saudi Arabia, a region favored for its religious significance, particularly among those begging in the vicinity of Mecca and Medina during the Haj and Umrah pilgrimages.
Naqvi disclosed that in 2024 alone, 4,850 Pakistani beggars were deported from these countries, with an additional 552 deported this year. This phenomenon highlights a deeply concerning issue for Pakistan, a nation grappling with rampant unemployment, crippling inflation, and acute food insecurity. These economic hardships contribute to a rising number of Pakistanis resorting to begging abroad.
The majority of those deported hail from Sindh province, with 2,428 individuals identified. Additionally, 1,098 come from Punjab, 819 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and 117 originate from Balochistan. While the official figures reflect a stark reality, experts suggest that the actual number of Pakistani nationals involved in begging might be even higher, particularly with thousands of undocumented immigrants potentially engaged in similar activities.
The presence of Pakistani beggars in countries like Iraq, which remains in the grip of recovery from conflict, is particularly distressing and underscores the dire state of Pakistan’s economy and the struggles of its citizens. All of this raises critical questions about the social and economic conditions that lead many to seek desperate means of survival abroad.
Original Source: https://www.india.com/news/world/pakistani-beggars-bad-news-for-pakistan-amid-tensions-with-india-as-muslim-nations-deport-over-5000-pakistani-nationals-due-to-begging-highest-from-saudi-arabia-7825252/
Category: World,Pakistani beggars,Pakistani beggars deported,pakistani beggars mecca,pakistani beggars Saudi arabia
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Publish Date: 2025-05-16 23:43:00
