Saudi Arabia has reportedly warned Pakistan against beggars from entering the kingdom under Umrah visas and has called for preventive measures.
According to sources from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Saudi authorities have raised concerns about the growing number of Pakistani beggars arriving in Saudi Arabia on Umrah visas. ,
The ministry warned that if the situation is not controlled, it could negatively affect 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, according to The Express Tribune.
Additionally, the ministry has reached out to the Pakistan government to find ways to prevent beggars from traveling to Saudi Arabia under the guise of religious 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, according to the publication.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has been tasked with cracking down on this network, which Mohsin said is damaging Pakistan’s image.
The FIA has been directed to crack down on the mafias responsible for sending beggars to Saudi Arabia.
