Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced on Saturday that Pakistani citizens deported from abroad, particularly those involved in begging, will face strict action including passport cancellation and the registration of First Information Reports (FIRs) against them.
According to official figures, Saudi Arabia has deported 5,033 Pakistani beggars over the past 16 months. Additionally, 369 individuals have been detained for begging in five other countries during the same period.
Last month, the interior minister had stated the government’s intention to block the passports of deportees and tighten the issuance process for new travel documents.
In a recent meeting chaired by the interior minister in Islamabad, it was decided that individuals returning to Pakistan after being deported will have their passports cancelled and FIRs registered against them. Furthermore, their names will be added to the passport control list for a period of five years, as reported by state-run PTV News.
A new committee, led by the interior secretary, has also been formed to further strengthen and reform passport regulations.
Minister Naqvi emphasized that deportees involved in such activities are tarnishing Pakistan’s image globally and declared that they will not be given any leniency in the future.