The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has expressed serious concerns about the increasing number of Pakistani beggars entering the Kingdom on Hajj and Umrah visas, according to reports from Geo News.
Sources within Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs confirmed that Saudi authorities have issued warnings, stating that if the issue is not controlled, it could negatively impact future Pakistani pilgrims traveling to the Kingdom for religious purposes.
The warning follows concerns that individuals are exploiting the pilgrimage visa system to engage in begging activities, tarnishing the image of Pakistani pilgrims. Saudi authorities have stressed the need for strict measures, hinting that the problem, if left unchecked, could result in severe consequences for genuine Pakistani pilgrims in the future.
Calls for action against exploitation of visas
Reports indicate that the Saudi Ministry of Religious Affairs has urged the Pakistani government to take swift action to curb the influx of beggars, who exploit Umrah and Hajj visas for personal gain. Saudi officials have cautioned that failure to address this issue could lead to tighter restrictions for Pakistani citizens wishing to perform religious pilgrimages, potentially impacting hundreds of thousands of devout individuals.
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In response, Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs has announced plans to introduce an Umrah Act aimed at regulating the operations of travel agencies responsible for arranging Umrah and Hajj trips. The new legislation would place these agencies under stricter legal supervision to prevent further misuse of the pilgrimage visa system.
Crackdown on offenders
Earlier reports highlighted the trend of Pakistani beggars using Umrah visas to enter Saudi Arabia and engage in begging activities, causing frustration among Gulf governments. In response, the Pakistani government has also moved to block the passports of those involved in such activities, as part of efforts to restore the credibility of its pilgrims.
The implementation of the new Umrah Act is seen as a key measure to safeguard the sanctity of religious pilgrimages and ensure that the integrity of Pakistani pilgrims is not undermined by a small minority engaging in illegal practices.
