Pakistan Repatriates 164,788 Nationals from Gulf in Five Years Amid Growing Labor Crisis
Nadeem Tanoli
Islamabad: A staggering 164,788 Pakistani nationals were deported from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries between January 2021 and April 2026, according to figures laid in the National Assembly during a question and answer session. Lawmakers raised serious concerns over the scale of repatriations, highlighting what critics describe as systemic labor exploitation and inadequate support for overseas workers.
MNA Asiya Naz Tanoli had asked the Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control, Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, to provide details of Pakistani nationals repatriated from Gulf countries over the past five years. The figures revealed alarming year on year increases in deportations from key countries. Saudi Arabia led the list, with 108,029 Pakistanis repatriated, including 27,692 in 2025 alone and 9,621 in just the first four months of 2026. The United Arab Emirates accounted for 40,497 deportees, while Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait saw 9,814, 2,971, 2,779, and 698 Pakistanis repatriated respectively.
The data underscores a continuing crisis for Pakistani expatriates, particularly in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, who constitute the largest portion of the workforce in the Gulf. Lawmakers and labor rights advocates warned that the figures reflect persistent exploitation, visa violations, unpaid wages, and poor living conditions faced by Pakistani workers abroad.
Experts argue that while the government has repatriation mechanisms, the numbers suggest that proactive measures to protect workers’ rights are insufficient. The spike in deportations in 2025 with 38,616 Pakistanis returned across all GCC countries is being viewed as a warning sign that labor disputes, non compliance by employers, and lack of oversight are intensifying.
The Minister clarified that the data was compiled from official records of repatriation from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait. He assured that the Interior Ministry is monitoring the situation and coordinating with embassies and labor attachés to facilitate the safe return of workers.
Despite these assurances, critics emphasized the human cost thousands of families face economic strain as workers are returned mid contract, often without wages or severance. Lawmakers called for urgent reforms in labor export policy, stricter regulation of recruitment agencies, and enhanced legal support for overseas Pakistani workers.
Read in Urdu: خلیجی ممالک سے پانچ برس میں ایک لاکھ 64 ہزار سے زائد پاکستانیوں کی وطن واپسی، بیرون ملک مزدوروں کے بحران پر تشویش
Copied From: Pakistan repatriates 164,788 nationals from Gulf in five years amid growing labor crisis
