Islamabad, August 31, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The deportation of 21,951 Pakistanis from Gulf nations between March 1 and July 13 has highlighted Pakistan's growing dependence on overseas employment to absorb its workforce and on remittances from migrant workers to support its external account, local media reported.
Data presented in Pakistan's National Assembly showed that Saudi Arabia accounted for the highest number of deportations at 15,495, followed by the UAE with 3,803 and Oman with 1,606.
The reasons cited included “other” cases (6,662), absconding (4,628), overstaying or illegal entry/stay (2,811), jail cases (1,294), lost passports (1,155), blacklist cases (968), drug-related cases (728) and visa violations (689). The largest “other” category was not further specified.
The figures underscore the vulnerability of Pakistan's labor market, where employment in the Gulf can substantially improve household finances but deportation can force workers back into an economy with limited employment opportunities.
A Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) policy paper by Professor Shujaat Farooq described the country's heavy dependence on the Middle East for labor exports and remittances as a critical vulnerability.
According to Farooq, around 700,000 to 800,000 Pakistanis travel to the Middle East annually, while nearly six million Pakistanis currently work in the region. The Gulf and wider Middle East account for around 54 percent of Pakistan's total remittances, The Express Tribune reported.
Farooq warned that a prolonged West Asia conflict could prevent around 500,000 Pakistani workers from taking up jobs in the Middle East in 2026, while more than 500,000 could potentially return to Pakistan. Such an influx could place additional pressure on the domestic labor market, particularly in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The report estimated that Pakistan's remittances could decline by $3 billion to $4 billion, putting pressure on the exchange rate and potentially widening the current-account deficit.
Pakistan's dependence on Gulf employment has also been affected by concerns over visa misuse. In February, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said Gulf countries had restricted visas for Pakistanis amid concerns over organized networks allegedly sending beggars abroad.
Asif said organized groups were recruiting children, women and people posing as disabled persons for begging in Gulf countries, describing begging as an increasingly organized “profession”.
The developments have renewed concerns over Pakistan's dependence on overseas labor markets and the potential economic consequences of tighter migration controls, deportations or instability in the Gulf region.