According to a report by Pakistani media outlet Geo TV, several
Gulf countries have raised issues regarding the behaviour of Pakistani expatriates and labourers.
This information was reportedly revealed during a Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis meeting, where Secretary of Overseas Pakistanis Dr. Arshad informed the committee that the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait have expressed reservations on various matters related to overseas Pakistanis.
This disclosure follows a report from the ministry in September 2023, which highlighted that beggars constituted the largest group among
Pakistanis leaving the country.
The official stated that Pakistani beggars often travel to Iraq and Saudi Arabia under the pretence of pilgrimage (ziarat). Many individuals visit Saudi Arabia on Umrah visas and then engage in begging activities. The secretary noted that 90% of the beggars arrested were Pakistani nationals.
Secretary Dr. Arshad informed the committee that annually, approximately 0.6 to 0.8 million Pakistanis travel abroad, with 200,000 to 300,000 returning each year. He stated that 96% of these travellers go to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
Highlighting issues faced by Pakistani expatriates, officials mentioned that the UAE reported exceeding its quota of 1.6 million Pakistanis, now reaching 1.8 million. They also noted that Pakistanis often extend their stay in Malaysia beyond the allowed period, resulting in imprisonment, and some have illegally remained in Iraq, though their exact numbers are unknown.
Senator Nasir Abbas noted that Bangladeshis are securing more jobs than Pakistanis. He mentioned that Pakistanis in Iraq are “helpless” and employed as cheap labor, often kept as “prisoners.”
He pointed out that Iraq needs labour for ongoing development projects. In response, overseas officials mentioned that Pakistanis in Iraq have numerous complaints.
The officials informed the committee that 2 million Pakistanis live in Saudi Arabia, with 0.4 million going there annually. Saudi authorities have requested Pakistan not to send “beggars and sick people,” emphasizing that the GCC is now focused on technology and development.
The overseas ministry officials remarked that Pakistanis going abroad are largely “unskilled” and lack proper training, resulting in other nationals replacing them. They also highlighted issues with Pakistanis’ work ethics, attitudes, and involvement in crime, noting that Pakistanis are responsible for 50% of the crimes in the UAE.
However, the current situation is even more alarming, as it involves inappropriate behaviour by Pakistanis in the UAE, including incidents of filming women in Dubai.
Officials noted that other nations are becoming “suspicious” of Pakistanis and are beginning to favour workers from other countries. They detailed that 600,000 to 800,000 Pakistanis travel abroad annually, with 96% heading to the Middle East.
