The Saudi Ministry of Hajj has issued a stern warning to Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs regarding the misuse of Umrah visas to beggars, urging immediate action to prevent Pakistani beggars from exploiting these visas.
Saudi authorities have expressed deep concerns about the rising influx of beggars entering the kingdom under the guise of religious pilgrimage, a situation that could negatively impact Pakistani Umrah and Hajj pilgrims if left unchecked.
In light of these developments, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has announced plans to introduce an “Umrah Act,” aimed at regulating travel agencies responsible for facilitating Umrah trips. This law will bring such agencies under strict legal oversight, helping prevent the misuse of Umrah visas to beggars and protecting the integrity of genuine pilgrims.
To address the issue at its roots, the ministry has reached out to the Pakistani government, seeking collaborative measures to prevent beggars from exploiting Umrah visas. The matter was a key point of discussion during a meeting between Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, and Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Ahmed Al-Malki. Mohsin Naqvi assured the Saudi envoy that stringent actions will be taken against the mafias facilitating these fraudulent trips.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has been assigned the task of dismantling the networks involved in sending beggars to Saudi Arabia under Umrah visas. This crackdown is not only critical for protecting the reputation of Pakistani pilgrims but also for safeguarding the image of the nation abroad. Just last month, FIA officials offloaded 11 suspected beggars from a Saudi-bound flight at Karachi airport, uncovering their true intentions during immigration checks.
Dr. Arshad Mahmood, Secretary of Overseas Pakistanis, highlighted this issue during a Senate Standing Committee meeting, pointing out that several Gulf nations have raised concerns about the behavior of overseas Pakistanis. Such concerns, which include work ethics and criminal activities, have damaged the reputation of Pakistani workers abroad, leading to increased scrutiny from Gulf employers.
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The Pakistani authorities remain committed to curbing the exploitation of Umrah visas to beggars and restoring the credibility of genuine pilgrims.
