Saudi Arabia has reportedly cautioned Pakistan about the rising number of Pakistani beggars entering the kingdom under the guise of religious pilgrimages such as Umrah. According to a report by “The Express Tribune”, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj has communicated its concerns to Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs, urging immediate action to prevent further incidents.
The Saudi authorities have warned that failure to address this issue could impact future Umrah and Hajj pilgrims from Pakistan, potentially resulting in stricter travel regulations.
In response, Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs is drafting an “Umrah Act” to regulate travel agencies involved in organizing these pilgrimages. The act will ensure that such agencies operate under strict legal oversight. Additionally, the ministry has requested the Pakistani government to implement measures to stop beggars from using Umrah visas to enter Saudi Arabia.
This follows a recent Saudi fatwa issued in May, which prohibits performing Hajj without a valid permit. Violators face a fine of 10,000 Riyals (approximately Rs 2.22 lakh) and deportation.
In a related incident in September last year, 16 beggars disguised as pilgrims were arrested after being offloaded from a Saudi-bound flight. Reports from the previous year also revealed that 90% of beggars arrested abroad are of Pakistani origin, further amplifying the concerns for both countries.
Pakistan’s authorities are now working to resolve this issue to maintain the sanctity of religious pilgrimages and protect legitimate pilgrims from stricter scrutiny.
