Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has revealed that Saudi Arabia has deported at least 4,700 Pakistani beggars, citing it as part of a growing concern about the image of Pakistan abroad due to the rising number of professional beggars.
Speaking at a gathering organized by the Pakistan Ready-made Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA) in his hometown Sialkot on Saturday, the minister shared startling statistics. He said that Pakistan is home to around 22 million beggars, who collectively generate a staggering Rs42 billion annually.
“This ever-growing population of beggars is a domestic concern and along with it, it’s affecting our country’s image globally,” he remarked.
While he did not specify the time frame for the deportations, previous data from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) confirmed that at least 4,000 Pakistani beggars had been sent back from Saudi Arabia over the last three years ending in 2024. These figures are believed to have increased further.
Crackdown on Begging Abroad
Saudi Arabia is leaving no stone unturned in enforcing strict anti-begging laws to stop beggers from begging. The country’s Anti-Begging Regulation permits for the arrest, imprisonment, and deportation of those involved in panhandling, particularly when linked to organized networks. Once convicted and deported, individuals are often fully banned from reentering into the country again.
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A senior FIA official shared that many of the deported beggars hail from South Punjab, Karachi, and Interior Sindh. Upon their return to Pakistan, the FIA places their names on the Passport Control List (PCL), preventing future international travel.
Call for Economic Reforms and Export Growth
Shifting focus to economic matters, Khawaja Asif has made an environment of positivity by using encouraging words to the business community in Sialkot to consider establishing their own local bank to foster investment and economic activity in the region. He praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s administration for its ongoing efforts to address the needs of local businesses.
PRGMEA chairman Ijaz Khokhar presented a charter of demands during the session, outlining the major areas needing government support.
Vision for URAAN Pakistan
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, also joined the event, urged Sialkot’s exporters to take a leadership role in URAAN Pakistan, a national initiative intending to change Pakistan into a $100 billion export economy by 2035.
Highlighting the potential in the $800 billion global apparel market, Iqbal called on exporters to move beyond low-value textiles and embrace branded, high-end garments targeting emerging markets in Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia.