Govt to cancel passports of deported Pakistanis, Register cases against them
Deported Pakistanis file foto
ISLAMABAD, May 24, 2025 –Govt to cancel passports of deported Pakistanis, Register cases against them.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced on Saturday that the government will cancel the passports of Pakistanis nationals deported from other countries and register First Information Reports (FIRs) against them.
The decision comes as part of a crackdown on citizens involved in illegal activities abroad, particularly begging. According to official data, Saudi Arabia deported 5,033 Pakistani beggars in the past 16 months, while another 369 were arrested for begging in five other countries.
Last month, Naqvi had warned that the government would block the passports of deported individuals and tighten procedures for issuing new travel documents. This follows the recent deportation of 106 Pakistanis from European countries, who arrived in Islamabad last month.
During a high-level meeting chaired by the interior minister, authorities decided that deportees would face immediate passport cancellation and legal action. Their names will also be placed on the Passport Control List for five years, barring them from international travel during this period.
A committee, led by the interior secretary, has been formed to review and strengthen passport laws to prevent misuse.
Naqvi emphasized that such deportations tarnish Pakistan’s global image and stated that no leniency would be shown to offenders in the future.
