Published: 04:20 PM, 23 April 2025
Ethiopia’s deportation of Pakistani beggars: A symbol of national decline?
In a moment that has sparked widespread introspection and debate, Ethiopia—one of the world’s poorest nations—recently deported dozens of Pakistani nationals accused of begging on its streets.
On the surface, it might appear to be a minor diplomatic footnote. But beneath the surface, this incident tells a deeper, more troubling story about Pakistan’s growing reputational challenges on the world stage.
For many observers, the fact that Pakistani citizens had travelled to Ethiopia—not for business, tourism, or diplomatic engagement, but to seek alms—was deeply symbolic.
It flipped the expected geopolitical narrative: a comparatively impoverished African nation expelling nationals from a much larger, nuclear-armed South Asian country due to concerns over public order, poverty tourism, and dignity.
The Ethiopian government, through local police and immigration authorities, confirmed the deportation, citing “illegal activities, including begging and overstaying visas,” as grounds for the removals.
Footage circulating on social media showed groups of detained individuals, some reportedly in traditional attire, being escorted onto flights back to Pakistan. The visual alone was jarring—and humiliating.
A global embarrassment rooted in domestic realities
Pakistan’s response to the deportation has been relatively muted, though a foreign office spokesperson acknowledged the incident and confirmed that investigations were underway. Public reaction, however, has been sharp and emotive.
On social media and in op-eds, many Pakistanis have expressed deep embarrassment, asking how the country’s citizens have come to seek refuge and sustenance in countries facing their own profound development struggles.
This episode shines an unflattering light on the depth of Pakistan’s economic and social challenges. Record inflation, currency depreciation, and unemployment have eroded the social safety net in recent years.
According to the World Bank, nearly 40% of Pakistanis live in poverty or are vulnerable to it. For many, especially in rural areas, migration—often irregular or semi-legal—has become a desperate lifeline.
But this desperation has extended to countries like Ethiopia, which battles high poverty rates, recurring drought, and post-conflict reconstruction, and is particularly striking.
Ethiopia is far from the typical destination for South Asian economic migrants. This trend suggests not only a lack of viable domestic opportunities, but also a growing sense of hopelessness among the marginalised.
Erosion of soft power
This incident also raises serious concerns about Pakistan’s global image—a concept often referred to as “soft power.” A country’s reputation, after all, is shaped not just by its military or diplomatic posturing, but by the conduct and conditions of its citizens abroad.
Pakistan has long struggled to shake off negative stereotypes: links to extremism, corruption, and political instability have dominated international headlines for decades.
Now, the image of Pakistani beggars being expelled from one of the world’s least-developed countries adds another layer of stigma. It suggests not only domestic failure, but international irrelevance.
Unlike highly skilled diasporas from its neighbouring countries like India, who contribute to tech, academia, and diplomacy abroad, Pakistan’s global footprint is increasingly seen through the lens of economic desperation.
If unaddressed, this can have ripple effects on everything from visa policies and labour access to foreign investment and diplomatic leverage.
A crisis of governance, not just economics
To dismiss this merely as an economic problem would be to miss the bigger picture. Pakistan’s predicament is as much about governance as it is about GDP.
Despite receiving multiple bailouts from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other international donors, systemic reforms remain elusive. Public services are stretched thin, institutions are politicized, and corruption continues to stifle progress at every level.
The failure to create sustainable livelihoods at home drives more people to seek fortunes abroad—sometimes even to countries with limited capacity to absorb migrants. In this context, the Ethiopian deportations are less an anomaly and more a symptom of a deeper malaise.
Pakistan’s overseas missions, already under-resourced and often criticised for indifference, would face scrutiny — how were these individuals able to enter Ethiopia with the intention of begging? Were there lapses in vetting or in consular oversight?
The diplomatic fallout is not just a matter of embarrassment—it points to administrative neglect.
Diplomatic repercussions
The reputational damage extends beyond public image; it carries diplomatic weight. Ethiopia, while poor, is a strategically important country in the Horn of Africa and serves as the seat of the African Union.
Its decision to deport Pakistani nationals, and to do so publicly, suggests a level of frustration with what it perceives as abuse of its hospitality and a lack of reciprocal respect. Such incidents may influence how other African nations view Pakistani travellers, businesspeople, and even state engagement.
In an era where Pakistan is seeking to expand its trade and diplomatic ties with Africa—often termed the “Look Africa” policy—this episode could prove a setback.
Time for introspection and reform
If there is any silver lining to be found in this embarrassing chapter, it is the urgency it lends to Pakistan’s need for introspection. The government must move quickly to restore dignity—both at home and abroad.
That means addressing the root causes that drive people to beg in foreign lands: joblessness, lack of education, and rural poverty. It means investing in vocational training and ensuring that economic relief packages are not swallowed up by bureaucracy or corruption. It also means rethinking the role of overseas Pakistanis—not just as sources of remittances, but as informal ambassadors of the country.
At the same time, the foreign office must recalibrate its outreach to include reputation management. Unless Pakistan takes meaningful steps to restore its economy, reinvest in its people, and project a vision of dignity and self-reliance, such incidents may become more common—and the shame deeper.
>> Source: PML Daily
