Interior Ministry Denies Sect-Based Deportation of Pakistanis from UAE

Pakistan's Interior Ministry on Friday officially denied circulating reports suggesting that Pakistani nationals are being deported from the United Arab Emirates on the basis of their country of origin or sectarian identity. The ministry characterised the claims as unfounded and called on the public to refrain from spreading unverified information that could cause unnecessary alarm among the Pakistani diaspora in the Gulf.

The denial came amid growing social media speculation that UAE authorities had initiated a targeted crackdown on Pakistanis, with some accounts alleging discrimination along sectarian lines. The ministry said it was in contact with Pakistani diplomatic missions in the UAE and that no credible evidence had been received to substantiate the reports.

Pakistani workers and expatriates constitute one of the largest foreign communities in the UAE, with remittances from the Gulf remaining a critical pillar of Pakistan's external account. Any large-scale or discriminatory deportation, if confirmed, would carry significant economic and diplomatic consequences for Islamabad.

Authorities urged Pakistanis residing in the UAE to remain calm and to approach official channels — including the Pakistan Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate in Dubai — if they face any difficulties. The ministry added that it would continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as warranted.