The rising dissatisfaction among Middle Eastern states over the increased number of Pakistanis participating in begging has prompted authorities to take action, with diligent screening of travelers going to those regions.
A senior Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) official told local media that immigration officers at airports had offloaded many individuals from planes in recent months to discourage the trend.
They said that potential beggars disguised themselves as tourists to travel Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Iran, Oman, and Turkey.
Pakistani officials have also raised alarm over the growing number of Pakistani beggars in foreign nations. A senior official informed the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis that 90% of beggars apprehended in other nations were of Pakistani descent.
During another committee hearing earlier this year, the Interior Ministry claimed to have offloaded 44,000 people over the previous two and a half years due to similar concerns.
According to reports, the interior minister, Mohsin Naqvi, has recently taken an active role in the crackdown on people traffickers and the beggar mafia.
According to FIA sources, “gangs” of prospective beggars operate mostly in south Punjab provinces and go from Multan airport disguised as religious visitors.
Qadir Qamar, Director of the FIA Gujranwala Region, reportedly informed local media that airport personnel will offload anyone carrying bogus or dubious travel papers.
According to travel brokers, the UAE authorities have been systematically rejecting visas to Pakistanis who do not have enough money in their accounts to establish they are “genuine visitors”.
The UAE hosts a large number of foreign embassies, particularly those of Western and African countries, as well as visa services for Pakistan.
Travel agents are concerned that increased monitoring will have an impact on travelers who plan to visit these countries and must appear for interviews in the UAE.
