MULTAN: At least 130 Pakistanis were deported by the Saudi government for overstaying their visas or working without a valid work permit. The deportees arrived at the Multan International Airport via Saudi airlines on Thursday. They told a private news channel that the Saudi Binladin Group and Redico Real Estate Development and Investment had not paid them for over a year, while the situation was compounded by the expiry of their work permits. They also claimed that the companies had not renewed their two-year work permits. The employees were residing in Royal Commission camps in Jubail, as they found it hard to make both ends meet without any income. Without valid work permits, it was impossible for them to seek employment with any other firm under the kingdom’s labour laws. Rab Nawaz, one of the deportees, claimed to have faced the worst kind of exploitation at the hands of these companies. He added that the Pakistani embassy did not provide any assistance to them despite many requests.
