21,951 deportations expose Pakistan’s Gulf jobs dependence

According to The Express Tribune, 21,951 Pakistanis were deported from Gulf countries between March 1 and July 13, 2026, with Saudi Arabia accounting for 15,495 cases and the UAE for 3,803. The figures were submitted to the National Assembly, and the government has rejected the idea of a blanket, country-specific campaign, saying removals follow breaches of host-country laws and immigration rules. Absconding, overstays and jail cases feature among the recorded reasons.

A record $41.6 billion arrived as remittances in FY26, and Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri of SDPI said Saudi Arabia and the UAE together accounted for close to 45% of that total. He estimated annual transfers from deported UAE workers at about $42 million, under 0.1% of remittances, so the immediate impact was limited. Still, he cautioned that visa policies and other decisions taken abroad can change a family's income overnight.

Dr Nasir Iqbal of PIDE tied the vulnerability mainly to joblessness at home, particularly among young people. Dr Shujaat Farooq's report estimated that around 6 million Pakistanis work in the Middle East, contributing 54% of remittances, and warned that a prolonged conflict could force more than half a million workers home. Iqbal also called for stronger laws and enforcement.