Saudi Arabia issues strict warning to Pakistan against sending beggars on Umrah, Hajj visas

Saudi Arabia has warned Pakistan to take seriously the beggars who are streaming into the kingdom on Umrah and Hajj visas. The Islamabad Ministry of Religious Affairs has appealed to prevent such people from obtaining visas and entering the territory to beg.

The Saudi government issued a warning to Pakistan after a large number of Pakistani nationals were caught begging in the country and were deported. It was found that the Pakistani beggars had entered the kingdom on Umrah and Haj visas and were using their time to beg on the streets of Makkah and Madinah.

Sources at Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs confirmed that Saudi Arabia has expressed serious concerns over the increasing number of Pakistani beggars entering the kingdom on Umrah visas.

“Saudi Arabia has warned that if the situation is not brought under control, it could have a negative impact on Pakistani Umrah and Hajj pilgrims,” the source said.

The ministry has introduced the ‘Umrah Act’, which aims to regulate and bring under one legal umbrella travel agencies conducting Umrah tours so that legal oversight can be exercised over them and their visa issuance procedures.

The issue of Pakistani beggars has long been a source of embarrassment for the Sheikh Baz Sharif government and was recently discussed during a meeting between Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and the Saudi envoy in Islamabad Nawaf Bin Said Ahmed Al-Malki.

Naqvi had assured that strict action would be taken against the ‘mafia’ responsible for sending beggars to Saudi Arabia.

The Pakistani government has mandated the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to crack down on such networks and travel agencies whose actions bring shame and embarrassment to the country.

“The beggar mafia is damaging the image of Pakistan,” said Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

Several Gulf countries, which host the majority of Pakistani citizens abroad, have raised serious concerns about the behaviour of Pakistani citizens and have further tightened their vetting procedures for them.

“Gulf countries have raised concerns over the conduct of Pakistani overseas workers, particularly in terms of work ethics, attitude and involvement in criminal activities. This is having a major negative impact and damaging the reputation of Pakistani workers abroad,” said Arshad Mahmood, Secretary of Pakistan Overseas Workers.

Last month, 11 alleged beggars were arrested at Karachi airport and deported from a flight to Saudi Arabia. They were arrested after being detained and questioned by FIA officials during the immigration process. It was later revealed that all of them were travelling with the intention of living in Saudi Arabia.