Islamabad
Saudi Arabia has urged Pakistan to take immediate action against the growing number of beggars entering the kingdom under Umrah and Hajj visas. The Saudi government has asked Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs to prevent such individuals from obtaining visas intended for religious purposes and using them to beg in cities like Mecca and Medina.
This warning follows the deportation of several Pakistani nationals caught begging in Saudi Arabia. Many of them had entered the country under Umrah and Hajj visas but resorted to begging on the streets.
According to officials from Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs, Saudi Arabia has raised serious concerns over this issue, indicating that failure to address the problem could impact future pilgrims from Pakistan.
In response, Pakistan has introduced the ‘Umrah Act’ to regulate travel agencies that facilitate Umrah trips, ensuring better legal oversight of their visa processes. The government is also cracking down on the networks and agencies responsible for sending beggars to Saudi Arabia, a situation that has embarrassed the Pakistani government.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi assured the Saudi envoy in Islamabad that strict measures were being taken to combat these illegal activities, emphasizing that the beggars’ actions are tarnishing Pakistan’s reputation abroad. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has been tasked with dismantling these networks, with several beggars recently caught and offloaded from Saudi Arabia-bound flights.
