Secretary Zulfikar Haider of Ministry for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development made this disclosure during a discussion in the Senate panel on the issue of skilled and unskilled labour leaving Pakistan, Dawn News reported.

In a startling revelation, Secretary Haider informed the committee that a staggering “90 per cent of beggars” arrested in other countries were of Pakistani origin.

He said several beggars were exploiting pilgrim visas to travel to Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq.

The official also regretted that a significant number of pickpockets apprehended in holy sites like the Haram were also Pakistani nationals, Dawn News reported.

He said Japan has also emerged as a new destination for such Pakistani visitors.

Senator Rana Mehmoodul Hasan reportedly said around 50,000 engineers in Pakistan were unemployed.

Citing concerns over skills and trustworthiness of Pakistani workers in the eyes of foreign employers, Secretary Haider acknowledged that Bangladesh and India had surpassed Pakistan in this aspect, Dawn News reported.