Over 164,000 Pakistanis deported from Gulf states in five years, National Assembly told
By Sardar Burhan :
More than 164,000 Pakistanis have been deported from Gulf countries over the past five years, according to official figures presented in the National Assembly on Monday, highlighting growing concerns over migration management and overseas employment compliance.
Data submitted by the Ministry of Interior showed that Saudi Arabia accounted for the highest number of deportations, with 108,029 Pakistanis sent back during the period under review. The United Arab Emirates followed with 40,497 deportations, while Oman deported 9,814 Pakistanis. The figures for Qatar and Bahrain stood at 2,971 and 2,779 respectively.
The statistics were tabled during a tense National Assembly session marked by strong opposition protests over the alleged denial of meetings with jailed PTI founder Imran Khan and concerns regarding his medical treatment.
The sitting, chaired by Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah, witnessed repeated sloganeering by opposition lawmakers, who staged a sit-in in front of the speaker’s dais. Opposition members also organised what they described as a symbolic “parallel assembly” inside the House, led by Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai.
Addressing the assembly, Achakzai accused the government of ignoring opposition demands related to access to Imran Khan and his healthcare needs. He warned that opposition parties would not allow parliamentary proceedings to continue smoothly and announced they would not cooperate during the upcoming federal budget process.
The opposition later walked out of the session and also pointed out a lack of quorum, further disrupting proceedings.
During the same sitting, the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency submitted a separate report revealing a sharp rise in cybercrime-related complaints across the country. According to the report, more than 531,000 complaints had been received between 2023 and the present.
The agency informed lawmakers that over 5,700 cases were formally registered during this period, while approximately 7,600 people had been arrested over the past four years in connection with cybercrime offences.
Lawmakers also discussed the increasing cost of private healthcare services in Islamabad, with concerns raised about the growing financial burden on citizens seeking medical treatment in the capital.
The latest deportation figures come at a time when overseas employment remains a crucial source of foreign exchange for Pakistan, particularly through remittances sent by workers based in Gulf countries. Officials have repeatedly stressed the need for better regulation, worker training and legal compliance to reduce deportations and improve the reputation of Pakistani workers abroad.
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