ISLAMABAD – A shocking revelation emerged during a Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis meeting, disclosing that 135,000 Pakistanis have applied for political asylum in Western countries over the past two years.
The Director General of Passports informed the committee that 125,000 asylum seekers were in Europe, while over 10,000 sought refuge in the United States. Additionally, 52,000 Pakistanis were deported from neighboring countries, including 34,000 from Iran in 2023 alone.
Officials confirmed that deportees’ passports have been blocked, and those involved in criminal activities face strict penalties. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) reported that 5,000 beggars were among those deported from Saudi Arabia, which has also tightened visa policies for Pakistani workers.
Despite these challenges, 10.3 million skilled Pakistani professionals continue working abroad, contributing to the economy through remittances.