Crackdown: Pakistan to cancel passports of deportees, file criminal cases

Deported individuals will also be placed on a Passport Control List

Last updated: May 26, 2025 | 15:49

Ashfaq Ahmed, Senior Assistant Editor

2 MIN READ

Pakistan government announces to cancel passports of individuals deported from foreign countries.

Dubai: Pakistan’s government has announced it will cancel the passports of its citizens deported from foreign countries and initiate criminal proceedings against them.

The move aimed at curbing illegal migration and restoring the country’s international image.

The decision was made during a high-level meeting chaired by Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. Officials, including Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, the Director Generals of the FIA and the Directorate of Passports, and other senior bureaucrats, were in attendance.

Also Read: Pakistani expatriates in UAE can now apply for passports, documents through mobile consular services

Most aggressive shift

As the Ministry tightens the issuance of travel documents, this step marks one of the most aggressive shifts in Pakistan's migration policy in recent years.

According to state-run PTV News, deported individuals will also be placed on a Passport Control List, effectively barring them from applying for or receiving new travel documents for at least five years. A committee, headed by the Interior Secretary, has been formed to further tighten passport regulations and ensure stricter enforcement.

Diplomatic concern

Interior Minister Naqvi cited growing concern over the global embarrassment caused by increasing numbers of Pakistanis deported for illegal activities, particularly begging.

He said that those found guilty of such offenses abroad were tarnishing Pakistan’s reputation and that the government would adopt a zero-tolerance policy moving forward.

Naqvi added: “No leniency will be shown as the government is determined to send a clear message about illegal migration and abuse of travel privileges."

Alarming statistics

This development comes in the wake of alarming statistics presented to the National Assembly: since 2024, a total of 5,402 Pakistani beggars have been deported from countries including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Malaysia, the UAE, Qatar, and Oman. Saudi Arabia alone accounted for the majority, with 4,498 deportations in 2024 and another 535 in early 2025.

Earlier this year, over 100 Pakistani nationals were also deported from various European countries and returned via Islamabad.

Ashfaq AhmedSenior Assistant Editor

Ashfaq has been storming the UAE media scene for over 27 years. As Senior Assistant Editor, his insights, analysis and deep understanding of regional dynamics have helped make sense of the unfolding news.   He’s the go-to guy for deep dives into the South Asian diaspora, blending heart, and hardcore reporting into his pieces. Whether he's unpacking Pakistani community affairs, chasing down leads on international political whirlwinds, or investigative reports on the scourge of terrorism and regional drama — Ashfaq doesn’t miss a beat.   He's earned kudos for his relentless hustle and sharp storytelling. Dependable, dynamic, and unstoppable, Ashfaq does not just report the news, he shapes it.