Saudi Arabia has expressed growing concerns about the increasing number of Pakistani nationals arriving in the Kingdom under the guise of religious pilgrimage, only to engage in begging activities.
This issue has prompted Saudi authorities to call on Islamabad to take immediate action to curb this trend, warning that failure to do so could have negative consequences for legitimate Pakistani Umrah and Hajj pilgrims.
According to sources within Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs, PTI reports that the Saudi Ministry of Hajj has formally warned about the increasing number of beggars entering Saudi Arabia on Umrah visas.
These visas are meant for religious pilgrims, but Saudi officials are concerned that the actions of these individuals are damaging the reputation of Pakistani pilgrims.
In response to Saudi Arabia’s concerns, Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs has announced plans to introduce an “Umrah Act.”
This new legislation aims to regulate travel agencies that facilitate Umrah trips, ensuring that they operate under legal oversight.
The Ministry is also collaborating with other government bodies to find effective ways to prevent beggars from exploiting religious visas to enter Saudi Arabia.
