The Saudi Ministry of Hajj has issued a warning to Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs, urging action to prevent Pakistani beggars from entering Saudi Arabia under Umrah visas. According to sources from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Saudi authorities have raised concerns over the rising number of Pakistani beggars arriving on religious pilgrimage visas, warning that if the issue remains unresolved, it could negatively impact Pakistani pilgrims performing Umrah and Hajj.
In response, Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs has decided to implement an “Umrah Act,” which will introduce legal oversight and regulation of travel agencies facilitating Umrah trips. The move aims to prevent misuse of the Umrah visa system.
Additionally, the ministry has sought support from the Pakistani government to find ways to curb beggars from exploiting religious pilgrimage as a cover to enter the kingdom. Measures to regulate travel and identify potential violators are under discussion.
This concern had already been brought to light during a meeting between Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Ahmed Al-Malki. During the meeting, Mohsin assured the Saudi ambassador that Pakistan would implement strict actions against those responsible for facilitating the travel of beggars to Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has been directed to take action against the mafias responsible for sending beggars under Umrah visas. Just a month ago, FIA officials offloaded 11 individuals suspected of traveling to Saudi Arabia to beg, from a Saudi-bound flight at Karachi airport. The passengers admitted their intention during the immigration process.
The issue was also raised by Dr. Arshad Mahmood, Secretary of Overseas Pakistanis, during a Senate Standing Committee meeting on Overseas Pakistanis. Dr. Mahmood noted that Gulf countries have expressed concerns about the conduct of overseas Pakistanis, specifically regarding their work ethic, attitude, and involvement in illegal activities. This scrutiny has impacted the reputation of Pakistani workers abroad, increasing the monitoring of Pakistani citizens traveling to Gulf states.
Efforts to control this network continue, with the Pakistani government seeking to protect its citizens’ reputation and ensure a smooth pilgrimage experience for genuine Umrah and Hajj pilgrims.
