The Ministry of Hajj of Saudi Arabia has issued a warning to Pakistan for sending beggars to the kingdom on Umrah visas. The ministry has raised the issue with the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Pakistan to take measures to stop beggars from entering the kingdom under Umrah visas.
The Saudi ministry expressed displeasure over the growing number of beggars entering the kingdom. Failing to address the issue may have serious implications for Pakistani Umrah and Hajj pilgrims.
In response, Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs has decided to introduce an “Umrah Act,” which aims to regulate travel agencies facilitating Umrah trips, bringing them under legal oversight. The Religious Affairs Ministry has also called the government of Pakistan to find ways to stop beggars from traveling to Saudi Arabia under the guise of pilgrimage.
Earlier in a meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Ahmed Al-Malki, Mohsin assured the Saudi envoy that strict measures would be implemented against the mafia responsible for sending beggars to Saudi Arabia.
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Federal Investigative Agency has been tasked with a crackdown against the network. Mohsin Naqvi says such activities ruin the image of Pakistan. The issue was highlighted by Dr Arshad Mahmood, Secretary of Overseas Pakistanis, during a Senate Standing Committee meeting on Overseas Pakistanis.
A few months back, UAE too raised similar concerns with Pakistan. They complained of the influx of beggars from Pakistan on work and tourist visas. The growing discontent among Middle Eastern states over the increased numbers of Pakistanis involved in begging has spurred authorities into action as they have started vigilant screening of passengers traveling to those destinations. Beggars from Pakistan are traveling to other Gulf countries as well as Turkiye.
Several countries have complained in this regard. Strict scrutiny is in place at Pakistani airports, with FIA offloading passengers from flights on suspicion.