Pakistan’s global image has suffered a fresh blow as thousands of its citizens continue to travel abroad for organised begging, defying visa curbs, no-fly lists, deportations, and repeated warnings from foreign governments. Despite stepped-up enforcement at home and mounting international pressure, begging networks originating in Pakistan remain active, prompting harsh action from Gulf states and exposing serious failures in migration control.
Saudi Arabia has deported approximately 56,000 Pakistani nationals on charges of begging, according to figures disclosed to Pakistan’s National Assembly by a parliamentary panel. The deportations come amid growing concern in the Kingdom over the misuse of religious visas, particularly Umrah visas, by Pakistani nationals who travelled to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina not for pilgrimage but to beg. Saudi authorities had formally urged Islamabad last year to stop the abuse of Umrah visas after Pakistani beggars were reportedly found operating organised camps near Islam’s holiest sites. At home, Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has acknowledged the scale of the crisis. In 2025 alone, the agency offloaded 66,154 passengers at airports across the country to prevent suspected beggars and members of organised networks from travelling abroad. Despite these measures, thousands of Pakistanis continue to attempt foreign travel solely to beg, highlighting both the desperation driving such migration and the limitations of enforcement mechanisms.
The issue has now spilled beyond Saudi Arabia. Last month, the United Arab Emirates sharply curtailed visa issuance to Pakistani citizens, citing concerns that individuals arriving from Pakistan were engaging in criminal activity and begging. The UAE’s decision marks one of the most severe visa restrictions imposed on Pakistan in recent years and reflects growing impatience among Gulf states over Islamabad’s inability to control outbound abuse of visa regimes. The data revealing the scale of the problem was presented months after Pakistan placed thousands of citizens on the Exit Control List (ECL)—effectively barring them from international travel. However, parliamentary disclosures suggest that even ECL restrictions and airport offloading have failed to fully disrupt the networks involved. Lawmakers warned that organised begging has evolved into a transnational racket, often facilitated by agents who exploit poverty, unemployment, and weak oversight.
The humiliation associated with mass deportations has resonated deeply within Pakistan. Analysts say the repeated expulsion of Pakistani nationals from Muslim-majority countries, especially Saudi Arabia, custodian of Islam’s holiest sites, has inflicted reputational damage that goes beyond individual wrongdoing. It has raised questions about governance failures, socio-economic distress, and the inability of state institutions to prevent exploitation of religious travel routes. Foreign governments, particularly in the Gulf, have made it clear that patience is wearing thin. Visa abuse, they argue, undermines security, public order, and the sanctity of religious pilgrimage. For Pakistan, the consequences extend far beyond embarrassment: tighter visa regimes threaten legitimate workers, students, and pilgrims who now face increased scrutiny due to the actions of organised networks. As deportations mount and visa doors close, Pakistan faces a stark challenge, whether it can dismantle organised begging syndicates, restore international trust, and address the underlying economic despair that drives thousands to seek survival through humiliation abroad. Without decisive action, officials warn, the damage to Pakistan’s standing may prove difficult to reverse.
IMF rejects Pakistan plea to cut tax amid inflation and economic crisis
Pakistan, which remains heavily dependent on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to meet its day-to-day financial obligations, is now grappling with rising costs even in essential items such as condoms, highlighting the depth of the country’s economic distress. The situation is particularly alarming given that Pakistan has one of the highest birth rates in the world, with an estimated six million children born every year. Rapid population growth combined with soaring inflation has become a major challenge for the government. Amid this backdrop, Pakistan sought relief from the IMF by requesting a reduction in the existing 18 per cent General Sales Tax (GST) on condoms. The request was submitted by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) as part of broader efforts to ease pressure on essential goods. However, the IMF categorically rejected the proposal.
According to Pakistani media outlet The News, the IMF conveyed its decision during a video conference with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, stating that reducing the GST midway through the financial year was not permissible. The Fund reportedly made it clear that any changes to tax policy must be considered only in the next annual budget cycle. The IMF emphasised that the current priority is the “protection” of Pakistan’s fragile economy, advising the government to maintain existing tax structures until the next fiscal year. As Pakistan continues to rely on the IMF’s bailout programme to stabilise its economy, all major financial decisions, including tax reforms, require the Fund’s approval. This dependence has forced Islamabad to seek IMF consent even for tax reductions on basic health and hygiene products.
In addition to condoms, the IMF also rejected requests to lower taxes on baby diapers and sanitary pads, further underlining its firm stance against any measure that could reduce government revenue in the short term. Officials estimate that reducing the tax on condoms alone would have resulted in a revenue loss of approximately 600 million Pakistani rupees. The IMF has maintained that it is not in a position to approve any proposals that could weaken Pakistan’s revenue base, especially as the country has already scaled down its revenue targets due to ongoing economic difficulties. Even those revised targets, the Fund has reportedly warned, may be difficult to achieve. As part of its latest bailout programme, the IMF has imposed 64 conditions on Pakistan, including structural reforms such as the privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines. With little fiscal flexibility and strict IMF oversight, Pakistan’s ability to address inflation, population pressures, and public welfare remains severely constrained.
